LOS LUNAS, N.M. — Valencia County Fire Chief Steven Gonzales was fired from his position Thursday after months of controversy and calls for him to step down.
Gonzales was previously on administrative leave after making an unauthorized traffic stop last month. He is facing charges of impersonating an officer and false imprisonment.
In April, Gonzales and several others were disciplined after racy photos from a tax-funded trip to a firefighter conference in Indianapolis surfaced. The photos show Gonzales and other fire department officials with scantily clad women.
When asked to resign several months ago, by Los Lunas County Manager Danny Monette, Gonzales refused.
“There’s been a lot of public outcry,” Monette told KOAT.