Española interim police chief Stephen Branch has allegedly submitted his resignation as police chief effective Dec. 31. Branch’s decision to step down as chief without an immediate replacement leaves a void in leadership at the top of the Department’s chain of command. Branch plans to continue serving as fire chief, interim city manager Joe Duran said.
However, Duran said earlier this week he has not yet seen Branch’s official resignation letter.
“If there is a resignation letter, the office of the city manager has not received one,” Duran said.
The Española City Council, at its Nov. 13 meeting, approved Councilors Cory Lewis, Elaine Herrera and Peggy Sue Martinez to compose the three-member police chief selection committee.
However, Mayor Alice Lucero said all of the candidates will appear before the Council. She expects approximately eight applicants for the police chief position.
Herrera said the committee will follow an outlined selection process for selecting a new police chief.
“All candidates are vetted to see whether they meet minimum qualifications as stated for the job,” she said. “The ones that meet the qualifications are then interviewed by the committee.”
A small group of finalists will proceed to a second round where a second interview takes place, this time in front of the entire Council.
“The mayor will then make her appointment based on the recommendation of the Council and the Council will ratify her appointment,” Herrera said.
Lewis also discussed the selection process, citing how the Council must ratify any appointment made by Lucero.
“The selection committee should meet every candidate and bring a name forward for the mayor’s consideration,” Lewis said. “And whatever name the mayor brings forward will have to be ratified by the entire governing body, just like any appointment of city clerk, city manager, police chief, city councilor or city attorney.”
City Clerk Tessa Jo Mascareñas said the city has previously advertised for the public safety director position in various media.
“There have also been advertisements in the classified section of the New Mexico Municipal League since early April,” Mascareñas said.
Interviews are set to begin the week following Thanksgiving holiday.
Lewis said he was unable to provide a time line for selecting a chief due to Lucero’s delay in making an appointment.
“The expected time line is unknown due to the fact we have been waiting for the mayor to bring a name forward for several months,” Lewis said. “I hope this selection committee means the mayor is going to expedite a chief of police for a long term and not a short stay. I feel we need longevity.”
Herrera said she is not aware of any candidates that have formally applied, but said she is open to selecting whomever is most qualified.
“I am unaware of any names,” she said. “However, I look forward to interviews and to placing the best qualified applicant in the position to lead our city in this critical position,” she said.
Lewis also reported no names have surfaced yet.
Department debris
A half dozen officers earlier this month filed a grievance with the city, claiming Branch ignored new officer signing bonuses that are outlined in the Department’s union labor contract.
Det. Moises Peña also filed a grievance against Branch and claimed the interim chief failed to post a sign-up sheet for officers to volunteer to patrol Halloween night. Peña said Branch’s willful ignorance of the sign-up sheet caused undue stress within the Department and that Branch was unreachable during the week leading up to the holiday and rarely came into the office. As such, many of the officers had already made plans as they assumed Branch had taken care of scheduling for Halloween.
Branch did not return multiple phone and email attempts to request an interview.
According to payroll records, Branch was paid for 40 hours of sick leave during the pay period of Oct. 26 to Nov. 9, the same time frame Peña claimed he could not reach Branch. Between Oct. 13 to Oct. 25, Branch logged 24 hours of compensation time and eight hours of sick leave. Two weeks prior to that, Branch recorded eight hours of holiday pay.
The Department’s policy dictates Sgts. Richard Gallegos, Jeff Martinez and Miguel Maez are in command when Branch is unavailable. Maez did not return multiple messages left Tuesday to explain in detail how Branch’s absence affects leadership capabilities within the Department.
However, while speaking at the Nov. 5 Public Safety Committee meeting, Sgt. Maez said confusion can arise when multiple personalities are in charge, as is the case when the three sergeants are in command.
“Having three sergeants in charge, you can’t run a Department like that,” Maez said at the Committee meeting. “It just doesn’t work.”