The City of Belen’s police chief has submitted his resignation, as part of a deal that will allow the city’s police officers to keep their take-home vehicles.

Chief Mike Chavez gave his letter of resignation to the city yesterday, thanking the mayor and council for his opportunity to serve the people of Belen. His last day is May 17.

Chavez’s resignation will free up money that would normally go toward his salary to instead be used to pay the gas and maintenance costs for the take-home vehicles.

At issue had been an ongoing debate among the mayor and city council concerning whether or not the city’s deficit meant the officers would no longer be allowed to take police vehicles home.

The officers had been allowed to do so as a part of their recruitment and benefits package, and according to some, in an effort to more quickly and effectively respond to emergencies.

As a part of budget cuts in March, the city stopped allowing other employees to take city vehicles home.

Due to the resignation, Belen Police Captain Dan Robb will step in as interim chief. Robb has served in that position on a temporary basis in previous years.

This page was published on May 6, 2010 at 11:37am and is filed under Budget, Police.