Investigator To Look Into Allegations Against Socorro PD Chief

The city of Socorro has hired an investigator to look into allegations leveled against its suspended police chief.

Socorro’s city council has named former FBI agent Gary Webb to get to the bottom of some serious allegations that led to the suspension of police chief Jaime Avalos. Avalos was named chief in 2009 after the firing of then-police chief Bill Mansion.

Webb worked for the agency for 28 years and was based both in El Paso and Las Cruces. He retired in 1998 and now runs his own private investigation firm.

The spokesman for the city of Socorro said Webb will be investigating Avalos on suspected violations regarding wages and hours served, polygraph policy, personnel management, and misrepresentation of facts related to official conduct, among other allegations.

The spokesman won’t say publicly why Avalos has been placed on leave, but said the allegations have led to high-profile cases in Socorro and El Paso County.