APD Names Cecily Barker as Their New Top Boss, Keller Adds Retired FBI Director as the New Public Safety Director

Albuquerque –

At a press conference this afternoon, Mayor Tim Keller named Cecily Barker the permanent chief of the Albuquerque Police Department.

Barker becomes the department’s permanent chief after a 22-year career with APD. She previously served as deputy chief of the Investigations Bureau and later led the Field Services Bureau as deputy chief.

Raul Bujanda, who served as Special Agent in Charge (SAC) of the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Albuquerque Office and has more than 27 years of law enforcement experience, was named the Public Safety Executive Director. Bujanda will assume the newly created Executive Director of Public Safety position, which will oversee the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), Albuquerque Fire Rescue (AFR), and the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Department.

City leaders had enlisted outside firm Public Sector Search & Consulting, Inc. to support the search for an APD chief, awarding a $100,000 contract for recruitment and selection services. Officials did not release the names of the 19 applicants for the position.

According to a March 13 email, officials identified three finalists after completing interviews: Dallas police Assistant Chief Gilberto Garza, APD then-Interim Chief Cecily Barker, and former Seattle assistant police chief Perry Tarrant.

This is a developing story and if any additional news comes at this press conference, we will update you.