Council votes to hire Samuel Hannah as deputy police chief

The Ruidoso Downs Town Council voted Jan. 13 to hire Samuel Hannah as deputy police chief, approving a personnel recommendation presented by the police chief.

The police chief summarized Hannah’s background, saying Hannah began in dispatch work, holds current EMT-basic certification and an intermediate peace officer certification, and is certified as a firearms and taser instructor. The chief described Hannah as experienced in rural policing and recommended him “as the right choice for this position.”

Hannah, who addressed the council during the meeting, said he chose law enforcement early in life and emphasized the particular demands of rural policing: “I don’t like officers that have to work by themselves. It’s not safe,” he told the council. He said he and the chief “are kindred spirits” on training and community engagement and expressed plans to help rebuild the department through training and outreach.

Councilors opened and discussed the personnel recommendation, then took a motion to hire. The clerk called a roll; councilors recorded affirmative votes and the motion carried. Hannah told the council he will turn in two weeks’ notice at his current job and hopes to begin around Jan. 28.

The hiring follows public comment earlier in the meeting urging the council to add officers and praising the chief’s work in keeping the community safe. No dissenting votes or abstentions were recorded on the hire motion during the council’s roll call.

The council did not set a formal start date beyond Hannah’s notice plan; council or staff will confirm his official start date once the notice period is complete.