East New Mexico News

From March 24, 2023 post.

Longtime Roswell Police Department member Capt. Joe Smith has been appointed the department's interim chief.

Mayor Tim Jennings named Smith to serve in RPD's top law enforcement-commissioned position while the city conducts a search for its next police chief to replace Phil Smith (no relation to Joe Smith), who left RPD this month for a police chief position elsewhere. Joe Smith begins his work as interim chief Friday, March 24.

A Roswell native, Joe Smith has more than 29 years of service with the Roswell Police Department. He started his career with RPD as a police officer in 1992. He is proud to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather, Antonio V. Baca Sr., who retired as a police officer from the Clovis Police Department. Between October 1992 and October 2006, Smith worked for RPD as a patrol officer, field training officer, detective and sergeant before moving to Albuquerque.

In February 2008, Smith returned to the Roswell Police Department as a patrol officer. In 2014, Smith was promoted to sergeant, supervising the Patrol Division, School Resource Officers, and Criminal Investigations Division. In 2017, Smith was promoted to lieutenant, supervising the Patrol Division, Technical Services Unit, Criminal Investigations Division, Training and Recruiting Division, and Records Division. In July 2021, Smith was promoted to Captain of Investigations, overseeing the Criminal Investigations Division and Special Investigations Division (narcotics).

Smith has been married to his wife, Beth, for 35 years. They have two adult daughters, Chelsea Samario and husband Joe Samario, and Kayla Benitez, and three granddaughters, Mariah Samario, Saleena Samario and Azaleeya Benitez, all of Roswell.

Original source can be found here.