Anthony Mayor Appoints First Police Chief

The newly incorporated city of Anthony continues to make history.

Graffiti and vandalism are two problems Mayor Ramon Gonzalez said he wants cleaned up, starting with the help of the city?s first ever police chief.

Currently, Anthony City Hall is considered law enforcement?s temporary building, primarily because the police chief, appointed Saturday, makes up the entire department.

“I look at it as a great advantage to be the first chief, to create something from nothing,? Police Chief Steve Foldy said. ?It’s got my stamp on it, nobody else’s.”

With only a desk, table, and computer that is still in the box, Foldy said his office may not look like much, but it is where the foundation is being laid for law enforcement of Anthony residents.

“Their health, their welfare, their safety, their security – that is the number one concern,” Foldy said. “My sole function and job is to create a law enforcement department in the city of Anthony that they can be proud of, and that’s starting from the ground up, to finding a facility to use, to getting the vehicles and equipment.”

Driving through neighborhoods, the graffiti-stained walls are hard to miss. Foldy said he wants to change that poor image into something positive.

“Once we start cleaning the place up, get some painting, get rid of graffiti, things of that nature, the community will look better and it will help draw business as well as new citizens… because then they’ll say, ?Hey, this is a nice place to be;? it’ll be no different than the sister city in Anthony, Texas,” Foldy said.

Gonzalez said Foldy has a big responsibility, but it is one that will evolve with time, and with a continued relationship with Dona Ana County Sheriffs and the community.

“Let people feel that this person is out there, that they feel safe being at home and this person is protecting us,? Gonzalez said.

But Foldy said in addition to his new title, he would like to be thought of in one way.

“Caring,? Foldy said. ?I want everybody to know that I really, truly care.?

Foldy said he would like to hire about 10 officers, and depending on funding, envisions having his department up and running within the next year.