During its Aug. 9 meeting, the Village of Questa Council approved the appointment of Ronald Montez, Jr. as the village’s new police chief.

Montez is currently a member of the New Mexico State Police and began his duties with the Questa Police Department on Aug. 22.

“This is the first step in fulfilling my top priority to reestablish the Questa Police Department,” said Questa mayor John Ortega. “Mr. Montez comes highly recommended, and his vision of what the Questa Police Department can be aligns perfectly with mine. The people of Questa deserve a police force with a chief as experienced and professional as Chief Montez.”

Born and raised in Taos, with friends and family in the Questa area, Montez began his career in law enforcement over 15 years ago with the Taos County Sheriff’s Office. He has served with the NM State Police the past 14 years.

“Law Enforcement was a career choice I made while in college,” Montez told the Questa News in an email. “My dad has been in law enforcement for over 30 years, I have two uncles that retired from New Mexico State Police, and my grandfather also retired from law enforcement, so I guess you can say it’s a family business.”

Montez’s only reason for leaving the NM State Police is to serve the Village of Questa. He said he is honored to have this opportunity.