Tucumcari's chief of police fired

The City of Tucumcari is without a police chief after he was fired Thursday.

City manager Paula Chacon confirmed in her office after the city commission’s regular meeting Thursday night that Police Chief Pete Rivera had been terminated from his position that day.

Chacon did not give a reason for Rivera’s termination, citing personnel matters.

Chacon on Saturday said that TPD corporals, Detective Reyes Gonzales and her would oversee the department until an acting police chief was chosen sometime this week.

She said she was placing advertisements “right away” to find a candidate to fill the police chief position.

City commissioners did not mention the chief’s firing during their regular meeting Thursday.

Rivera had been on the Tucumcari Police Department for almost 12 years.

Rivera became acting police chief shortly after the resignation of previous chief David Lathrom in July 2021. Lathrom had served in the position for a little over four years.

Rivera became permanent police chief shortly after Chacon was hired as city manager in August.

Attempts to reach Rivera for comment were unsuccessful.