New Mexico fire chief in trouble at FDIC now investigated for playing cop
Remember Chief Steven Gonzales from Valencia County, New Mexico? Chief Gonzales and two of his assistant chiefs found trouble in April thanks to a well-publicized lunch date while they attended FDIC. Despite a post-FDIC suspension and his boss calling for his resignation, Chief Gonzales didn’t wait long to find trouble again. Gonzales is again on administrative leave while under investigation. This time a local police chief is complaining that Fire Chief Gonzales was trying to play police officer.
Alex Goldsmith, KRQE-TV (listen to radio traffic from traffic stop):
Valencia County Fire Chief Steven Gonzales is being investigated by Los Lunas police after he pulled over a driver on I-25.
Previously:
Fire chief asked to resign over FDIC photos but refuses & puts up Facebook fight
What happens at FDIC doesn’t stay at FDIC – NM chief & two deputies suspended
It happened on Saturday afternoon near Exit 203 off of northbound I-25 in Los Lunas. On recorded dispatch audio obtained by KRQE News 13, you can hear Gonzales’ radio in what would normally be a routine call.
“Can I have a Los Lunas police officer meet me on I-25 just south of [mile marker] 203?” Gonzales said. “I have a vehicle, silver Camry pulled over [for] excessive speed and reckless driving.”
Dispatchers were sending an officer when Gonzales called out again over his radio. It appears the driver Gonzales pulled over may have realized that it was not police who had stopped them.
“Ma’am at this time the vehicle departed,” Gonzales said. “It’s the silver Toyota Camry.”
