Santa Fe Mayor Signals Possible Revival of Dormant Civilian Police Oversight Board as Use-Of-Force Complaints and Settlement Payouts Mount
SANTA FE, NM — Santa Fe Mayor Michael Garcia says he may move soon to revive a civilian police oversight board that has existed in city code for nearly 30 years but has not been convened for years. The panel could review serious incidents involving city police, including shootings, high-speed chases and other use-of-force cases.
Garcia said Monday that he has not taken steps to reestablish the board since taking office in January, but he expects movement on the issue in the “very near future.” The discussion comes as the Santa Fe Police Department faces sharp increases in use-of-force incidents and fresh scrutiny over how officers are disciplined when force is found to be out of policy.
Use-of-force cases and settlement payouts intensify the pressure
Police data shows force incidents in Santa Fe nearly tripled from 2020 to 2024. In 2024, officers reported 131 use-of-force incidents, and officials classified three as unauthorized, meaning they did not comply with department policy. The year before, there were 106 incidents and four were deemed unauthorized.
The city has also agreed recently to millions of dollars in settlement payouts tied to lawsuits accusing police of excessive force, including fatal shootings. One settlement reached $2.5 million for the wife of a transgender man who was shot and killed by police while he was experiencing a mental health crisis in 2024. Those cases have renewed questions about how the department handles discipline after force incidents.
A 1997 ordinance created the board but it never gained traction
Santa Fe City Council created the framework for the civilian oversight board in 1997, with approval from then-Mayor Debbie Jaramillo. City code calls for five members appointed by the mayor and confirmed by the council, with restrictions that bar recent police officers and immediate family members of officers from serving.
The board’s authority is advisory. It may review internal affairs files involving allegations of excessive or unnecessary force, false arrests, high-speed pursuits and police misconduct, then recommend whether it agrees with investigators or wants further action. Earlier proposals would have given the board subpoena power and the ability to conduct independent investigations, but those powers were not included in the final ordinance.
Garcia wants changes before activating the panel
Garcia said he plans to appoint members, but believes the ordinance needs “changes” before the board is launched. He said the current structure focuses too heavily on discipline and could benefit from functions that also support cooperation with police.
He said he wants a model that does not view the department through “only a negative lens.” In a statement, Garcia said he is exploring how existing oversight tools can work together to support effective policing, increase accountability and maintain public confidence. He also said he has gone “back and forth” on how to proceed, though he now leans toward convening the board first and then asking members for recommendations on changes.
Valdez cites unauthorized force cases and questions about discipline
Interim Police Chief Ben Valdez, who is one of two finalists for the vacant chief’s job, said in a sworn deposition in a civil case that the department records multiple cases of unauthorized force each year. He said each of those cases should have led to “corrective action,” and suggested at least one officer was likely disciplined annually.
That statement appears to conflict with a city filing in which officials said no Santa Fe Police Department officer had been terminated, disciplined or reprimanded for excessive force since at least the start of 2018. It remains unclear whether discipline has in fact been imposed in recent years. Valdez did not provide Monday’s requested details about officer discipline.
Council members split over what oversight should look like
District 1 Councilor Alma Castro has pushed for the board’s return and recently introduced an amendment calling for an “independent civilian oversight agency” with community forums, bias-free policing and use-of-force reform. The amendment was attached to a proposed resolution that would also affirm support for the city’s police and fire departments and encourage residents, regardless of immigration status, to use emergency services.
Castro said her amendment was awaiting a signature from the City Attorney’s Office. Councilor Pilar Faulkner said she is not opposed to reviving the board, but believes members should have relevant knowledge or expertise. She also said residents she talks with want more policing, while warning that overpolicing can be as harmful as underpolicing.
Faulkner said she is unsure whether enough elected officials want to move ahead now, adding that if the idea had overwhelming support, it likely would have happened sooner.
A renewed debate over civilian review and police accountability
The debate in Santa Fe reflects a broader tension that has surrounded police oversight boards in many cities: whether civilian review can improve accountability without weakening police operations. In Santa Fe, the issue has lingered for years even though the ordinance remains on the books.
Supporters of the revival say the board could provide another layer of public trust at a moment when use-of-force concerns and civil settlements are drawing attention. Garcia, however, is still weighing whether to start the panel as written or adjust the ordinance first. For now, the board remains a possibility rather than an active part of city government.
