The City of Monte Vista has appointed former Alamosa Police Sgt. Rick Needham as Chief of Police.
Needham has been acting head of the Monte Vista Police Department since Nov. 30. He won out over three other finalists from Montrose, Ellis, Kan., and Reno, Nev. after interviews in late February with City Manager Don Van Wormer, as well as a panel of law enforcement professionals and a local resident. Needham replaces former Chief Jim Gallegos, who retired in late November after 29 years with the Monte Vista Police Department.
“I look forward to the challenges ahead and to the opportunity to serve the citizens of the city of Monte Vista in developing a partnership to meet the needs of everyone in the community,” Needham said. “The Monte Vista Police Department has an awesome group of men and women dedicated to service to this community. It has been an honor and a privilege to serve with them over the past three months, and I look forward to the future working with them.”
Needham will oversee all operations for the department, including 10 sworn officers.
Needham served with the Alamosa Police Department for 26 years, most recently for the past 10 years as sergeant assigned to investigations. He has also been an instructor since 2005 at the Southern Colorado Peace Officer Training Academy at Trinidad State Junior College in Alamosa. Needham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology from Adams State College. He gained law enforcement training at Colorado Mountain College in Glenwood Springs, as well as numerous continuing education courses. Needham is vice president and a founding member of the Colorado Drug Investigator’s Association.
“There were four highly qualified candidates, each of whom could do the job,” Van Wormer said. “It was a tough decision and, in the end, I decided Mr. Needham would be the best person to lead the Monte Vista Police Department.”