GRANTS, N.M. – Interim Chief Jeff Marez of Grants Police Department has been on the job for just about a week and is already making big changes at the department to refocus and reestablish trust with the community and officers. These changes come off the heels of City Manager Vanessa Chavez saying she wants to take Grants Police Department in a new, more productive direction.
Marez’ changes are coming after Steve Chavez, former chief of police, resigned and Lieutenant David Chavez followed and submitted a letter of resignation active in two weeks, just days later, his last day on the force is Nov. 4.
New changes coming to GPD
Increasing GPD visibility across the city, Interim Chief Marez is taking unmarked police vehicles off the street. The department will still have undercover vehicles for when necessary, but said that this is an important step in improving community relations.
“I’m not saying ‘no’ to undercover cars,” Interim Chief Marez said, “Some undercover cars are needed, but all patrol officers, detectives, and the chief will be driving marked vehicles with cages.”
“Cages” is terminology for the metal roll cage in the backseat of police cruisers where a suspect can be held. Not every GPD cruiser on the street at the moment has a cage, and this has contributed to wasted time by officers who make an arrest but because they have no cage in their car, have to call another officer with a cage to come and transport the arrested individual.
This new change will save the department time, money, and manpower.
This isn’t the only change coming to GPD’s vehicle policies, however. Interim Chief Marez explained that he will not be driving what has traditionally been considered the “chief’s vehicle” and will instead be driving a 2014 Dodge Charger – the oldest vehicle in GPD’s fleet, according to Marez. As a lieutenant, Marez drove a dark grey “ghost” police cruiser – still marked but lighter and not as visible – he is making the change to the older vehicle which is presently marked “Service Aide” (but that decal will be removed and it will read “Police”) to free up better vehicles for his officers.
On top of refusing to take the chief’s vehicle, Interim Chief Marez is refusing to take the pay-increase which he is entitled to as interim chief. Manager Chavez said this is because Marez wants to focus on officer retention and believes in acknowledging the officers based on their performance.
Manager Chavez explained that GPD is at a turning point, explaining the leadership of GPD as a triangle that traditionally places the chief at the top. Now, this triangle is turned upside down and the chief will be expected to lift up their officers and lead not from an office, but lead the department from within the department.
Resignations
Since Steve Chavez’ resignation as GPD Chief on Oct. 18, excitement has drummed up across the city as former police officers who left GPD due to the former leadership have been calling City Hall to inquire about open positions on the force. At least one sergeant will be returning to the force who had left due to the former leadership.
Lt. Chavez makes the second high-profile resignation from GPD, following the former chief. When asked if there would be more resignations from GPD, City Manager Vanessa Chavez said that she prefers to think in the present.
Both men who resigned from the department did so with a letter of resignation, neither letter was available to the Cibola Citizen by press time, but we are working with the city to secure them.