Las Cruces police chief to step down

The chief of the Las Cruces Police Department had announced that is he stepping down.

Las Cruces Sun-News reports (http://bit.ly/14LLeNc) that Richard Williams said Friday he will retire after three years as the department’s leader.

He says his last day will be Oct. 31.

Williams informed City Manager Robert Garza of his intention to retire in a memo sent Tuesday.

During Williams’ tenure, the Las Cruces Police Department has established an independent audit system to evaluate professional standards and conduct of its police officers. In a recent report to the Las Cruces City Council, a Washington, D.C. company hired by the city to audit the police department said significant improvements have been made, and public complaints of alleged misconduct or abuse by officers has substantially dropped.

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Information from: Las Cruces Sun-News, http://www.lcsun-news.com