INTER-OFFICE MEMORANDUM March 26, 2026
TO: Klarissa J. Peña, President, City Council
FROM: Timothy M. Keller, Mayor
SUBJECT:
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Appointment of Interim Chief of Police Cecily A. Barker to the position of Chief of Police of the Albuquerque Police Department
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Pursuant to Section 4(d) of Article 5 of the City Charter, I am submitting for Council’s advice and consent the appointment of Interim Chief of Police Cecily A. Barker for the position of Chief of Police for the Albuquerque Police Department.
Cecily Barker is a veteran law enforcement executive with over two decades of dedicated service to the Albuquerque community. She is respected by the department and the community for her strategic, data-driven approach to public safety as well as her compassion towards her officers, staff, and the many victims and their advocates who she has encountered throughout her career.
Recently appointed as Interim Chief of Police for the Albuquerque Police Department, she guiding the department of approximately 900 sworn officers and 400 professional staff, with a $272 million budget through a critical leadership transition for the Albuquerque Police Department.
Under her leadership as Deputy Chief of both the Investigative Bureau and the Field Service Bureau, the department has strengthened accountability, enhanced operational readiness, and achieved measurable reductions in crime-including a significant decrease in homicides and a clearance rate exceeding 90% year-to-date. She is deeply committed to aligning policing strategies with community priorities, improving both public safety outcomes and public trust.
Throughout her career, Barker has held key leadership roles across the department, including Deputy Chief of Field Services and Deputy Chief of the Investigative Bureau. In these roles, she led sweeping operational improvements, revitalized the department’s Duke City Stats crime strategy program, and implemented the Detective Academy to elevate investigative excellence. Her leadership has consistently emphasized intelligence-led policing, interagency collaboration, and organizational accountability.
At the start of the pandemic, Barker commanded the Northwest Area Command, where she championed innovative approaches to community policing during periods of social distancing and built strong partnerships with neighborhood organizations, elected leaders, and local businesses. The outcomes of her commitment to communication and community stewardship quickly led her to higher positions of leadership.
As Chief of Staff, Barker worked closely with city leadership, including the Mayor and City Council, to advance major initiatives, strengthen stakeholder relationships, and ensure alignment between public safety operations and citywide priorities. She has also overseen critical reforms tied to federal compliance mandates, helping drive meaningful and sustainable organizational change.
Additionally, she led specialized investigative units, supervised high-profile cases involving violent crime and crimes against children, and developed training programs in domestic violence, missing persons investigations, and crisis intervention - areas where she is considered a subject matter expert.
Beyond her operational leadership, Barker is an active contributor to public safety policy and reform. She serves on the New Mexico Public Safety Advisory Commission and the Domestic Violence and Sexual Assault Commission, and holds key roles on departmental review boards focused on use of force and performance accountability.
Known for her humility, integrity, collaborative leadership style, and unwavering commitment to community safety, Cecily Barker continues to shape the future of policing in the country through her service at APD.
I respectfully ask for your support in appointing this highly qualified and committed professional to be our next Chief of Police for the Albuquerque Police Department, notably the first female in this position.