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BELEN—After serving less than one year as Belen’s police chief, Jose Natividad handed in his resignation last week.
Natividad was appointed chief in June 2024 after former chief James Harris resigned to take a position in Alaska. Natividad has 18 years of service with the Belen Police Department.
He started his law enforcement career with Albuquerque Public Schools after serving in the U.S. Army.
During Monday’s city council meeting, Mayor Robert Noblin announced Natividad’s resignation, saying the former chief turned it in on March 12.
“After careful consideration, I have decided it is time for me to pursue new opportunities after 18 years of dedicated service to the city of Belen and the Belen Police Department,” Natividad wrote. “Serving as police officer, a patrol sergeant, lieutenant, deputy chief and chief, it has been one of the most fulfilling experiences of my life ...”
He also wrote that he was thankful for the support of his fellow officers and being able to work with “talented and dedicated” police officers throughout his career. Natividad wrote he has grown personally and professionally during his time in Belen.
When asked by the News-Bulletin why he resigned, Natividad said it was for personal reasons.
“I thank the citizens of Belen; they’ll always be part of my heart,” Natividad said in a telephone interview Tuesday morning. “I wish the department the best, but I need a better work-life balance. My family comes first.”
In his letter to the mayor, Natividad said his resignation will be effective on April 25. Noblin said Natividad had taken the letter to city hall last week, after having been placed on administrative leave.
Noblin explained Natividad resigned but offered to work until April 25. The mayor said City Manager Roseann Peralta made the decision to place him on paid administrative leave for the remainder of his contract to make an easier transition for the new interim chief.
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The mayor credited Natividad for his dedication to the city, his work with Special Olympics and being a liaison between the city and residents.
“I know that he’s got other opportunities at another agency and I offered to write him a letter of recommendation,” Noblin said Tuesday. “After his 18 great years with the city, stepping into the chief’s roll was a different transition; he wasn’t able to interact with the public as often and it was more desk work. It was a big change, and I’m not sure it was a change that he thoroughly enjoyed.”
Noblin did say he has appointed Lt. Adam Keck as interim police chief. Keck has been with the Belen Police Department for 20 years, having began his career in law enforcement with the Albuquerque Police Department in 2003.
The mayor said he and Peralta have met with Keck to discuss the priorities of the police department and ongoing projects.
The mayor said the police chief’s position has been posted and he will be looking for someone who can come in to fill some big responsibilities for the city.
“We’re going to need a chief to help us with the transition into the new police department, and expansion of the department and the accreditation of the department,” Noblin said. “There’s a lot of responsibilities that will be on the shoulders of the new chief.”
The position has been posted nation-wide, but Noblin said they will be looking through all the applications. He also said the city will form a committee to interview candidates.
The mayor said he’s not in a hurry to appoint a new chief, saying he’s looking for the right person for the position.
“We have had a number of chiefs in the past 15 years, and moving forward, consistency is going to be really important for me. I want someone who wants to be here for the long run.” Noblin said.
