ALBUQUERQUE — Mayor Tim Keller on Tuesday named longtime Albuquerque police officer Cecily Barker as the next chief of the Albuquerque Police Department, making her the first woman selected to lead the agency in its 145-year history.
Barker, an Albuquerque native who joined the department in 2004, has served as interim chief since January following the retirement of former Chief Harold Medina. Her appointment is subject to City Council confirmation.
The announcement comes as Keller begins a new term after winning reelection last year and seeks to reshape the city’s public safety leadership amid continuing scrutiny of APD’s performance, officer accountability and crime reduction efforts.
Keller also announced that former FBI special agent Raul Bujanda will serve as Albuquerque’s new public safety executive director, overseeing APD, Albuquerque Fire Rescue and the Albuquerque Community Safety Department. City officials said the position is intended to improve coordination among the city’s public safety agencies.
“Cecily Barker is a proven leader who understands Albuquerque and understands this department,” Keller said in announcing the appointment. The mayor said Barker’s experience inside APD made her the best choice after what the city described as a nationwide search.
According to the city, 19 people applied for the position and seven candidates were interviewed. The search was narrowed to three finalists: Barker; Dallas Assistant Police Chief Gilberto Garza; and former Seattle Assistant Police Chief Perry Tarrant.
Barker spent eight years as a patrol officer before rising through the ranks. Most recently, she served as deputy chief overseeing APD’s Field Services Bureau and previously supervised the department’s Investigations Bureau. City officials said Barker has emphasized internal reform, officer development and improvements to department technology.
Her selection follows the departure of Medina, whose tenure drew criticism from some residents and city leaders over the department’s struggles to complete reforms required under a federal settlement agreement and over several high-profile controversies. APD has operated under a federal consent decree since 2014 after the U.S. Department of Justice found a pattern of excessive force by officers.
Medina also faced criticism during his time as chief over officer shortages, crime trends and a 2024 traffic crash in which he struck another vehicle while driving an unmarked police car to a crime scene. Medina later retired at the end of 2025 after more than three decades in law enforcement.
Since taking over as interim chief, Barker has begun reorganizing APD’s leadership structure. City officials said she eliminated 12 command positions in an effort to streamline the department and reduce layers of management.
In announcing her appointment, Barker said she plans to continue focusing on rebuilding trust between officers and the community while strengthening the department from within.
“We have to continue moving this department forward,” Barker said. “That means supporting our officers, improving accountability and making sure the people of Albuquerque know they can trust their police department.”
