The Española City Police Department has been without a leader since former police chief Mizel Garcia left about two months ago and interim chief Cody Martinez resigned earlier this month, but help is coming — and he’s familiar with EPD.
During the Tuesday city council meeting, Mayor Dennis Tim Salazar nominated Jack Jones after a weeks-long search for a new police chief. The Española City Council approved his appointment in a 7-1 vote.
Jones previously served as the EPD deputy chief from June 2019 to September 2022 during the Javier Sanchez administration but resigned in June 2022, citing a hostile work environment and ongoing administrative issues.
“I’d like to say thank you very much,” Jones said after the council vote. “It’s an honor to be back in Española. I look forward to working with each and every one of you and see what we can do to improve this and be transparent. And as we talked in a special session, bringing everything to fruition, and make it happen.”
Interim Police Chief Pablo Montoya will stay in the position until Jones takes over the role. Montoya is then expected to become the Española Fire Department’s deputy chief alongside Chief John Wickersham.
District 2 Councilor Peggy Sue Martinez voted against Jones’s appointment.
According to previous media reports, Jones is a retired U.S. Army Colonel. He previously served as the director of the Law Enforcement Academy in the state’s Department of Public Safety from June 2014 to December 2015.
A new city clerk was also appointed during Tuesday’s meeting to fill the vacancy left by Carla Martinez, who also resigned a couple of months ago.
Salazar Angelica Serrano as city clerk. She has been serving in the interim position since April.
Like Jones, she previously worked in the Sanchez administration. The council unanimously approved her appointment.