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RIO COMMUNITIES—Two months after being placed on paid administrative leave, Felix Nunez has been terminated from his position as chief of police in Rio Communities.
Nunez was appointed as the city’s first police chief in September 2023. During a special city council meeting last Wednesday, and after a hour and a half executive session, the city councilors unanimously voted to terminate the chief’s contract, which had been unanimously approved in May.
The chief was placed on leave in mid-May after someone filed a complaint. The complaint was investigated by Universal Investigation, in Albuquerque. During Wednesday’s executive session, the council was given the results of the report.
When asked by the News-Bulletin for a copy of the complaint and the investigation, Rio Communities City Manager Martin Moore said it was not for public consumption.
“The investigation report is not subject to disclosure under the (Inspection of Public Records Act) because it is a memorandum that is a matter of opinion as part of a personnel administrative investigation in the Police Chief’s Personnel File. See: NMSA 1978 section 14-2-1.C.”
Rio Communities Mayor Joshua Ramsell said he also couldn’t comment on the reason for the chief’s termination, or the complaints made against him because it’s a personnel issue.
“There was an investigation and the council discussed it in executive session,” Ramsell said. “Coming out of executive session, the council made the (decision) to terminate him.”
While Nunez wasn’t at last week’s council meeting, he was watching on Facebook Live. Most of the city employees, including from the police and fire departments, were in attendance when the announcement of the chief’s termination was made.
“It was unjustified and I feel that there is some wrongdoings within the city at different levels of government by certain elected official and administration,” said Nunez of his termination. “I have retained an attorney.
“I want to thank the community, in whole, for all their support in building a new police department. I believe this will pass, but I hope that the city is capable of hiring a chief who can handle the political challenges and roadblocks I went through, both internally and externally.”
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Nunez said he is weighing his options for his future, and is also contemplating retirement. His attorney advised him not to talk about the “unfounded” allegations brought against him.
As for the police department, Ramsell said Sgt. Jose Rodriguez is currently the officer in charge, and office manager Emma Sanchez is running the office. The mayor said police services have not been impacted since Nunez was placed on leave two months ago.
“Having such a new department, we want to make sure we do what’s best for the community and we want to make sure our police department is not moving backwards, that we’re always moving forward,” the mayor said.
“Going forward, the council will be making that decision, but the idea would be looking for our next police chief,” Ramsell added.
The mayor said the council has not decided when they’ll advertise for their next police chief, but he hopes it will happen in the near future.
“Being such a young department, we need to make sure we have a police chief to guide that department,” he said.
