ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- The Albuquerque Police Department has a new leader, and for the first time in the department's history, it is a woman.
Cecily Barker was appointed interim police chief by Mayor Tim Keller earlier this month as the city launches a nationwide search for a permanent chief. Barker, a longtime APD veteran, said she plans to prove she is the right person for the job long-term.
"It feels great, a little surreal, but I love it," Barker said.
Barker has only been in the role for about two weeks and has already faced early challenges, including staffing changes and a recent officer-involved shooting in which police killed a man they say was armed. She said she is prepared to lead the department through difficult moments.
"I have a lot of experience within the department," Barker said.
Born and raised in Albuquerque, she joined APD in 2004. She spent eight years as a patrol officer before moving up through the ranks to eventually become a deputy chief.
She acknowledged her appointment is historic but said she does not want her gender to define her leadership.
"I think this is a really unique opportunity," she said. "But I don't want this to be about me being a female. I have worked hard my entire career, and I think the work I have done in each bureau and division speaks for itself."
Keller selected Barker to serve as interim chief while the city conducts a national search for a permanent replacement. Barker said she plans to rely on input from officers across all divisions as she leads the department.
"I can't know everything. I don't pretend to know everything," she said. "There are divisions that I have not been a part of. But for those divisions, it is important for me to hear from the officers that are working there so I have knowledge of what they are experiencing."
One of Barker's first major actions as interim chief was eliminating 12 command positions, which she said were no longer necessary now that APD has completed its federal Department of Justice settlement agreement.
"I truly believe that our department needed a change," she said. "But I am excited to get back to our number one focus being crime fighting."
Over the weekend, APD officers were involved in the city's first fatal police shooting of the year. Police said officers shot and killed a man who was armed. Barker said she plans to respond personally to future high-profile incidents to promote transparency.
"Those are situations that don't happen every day," she said. "I think it is important for them to see the chief so they know we are working on transparency."
While the city's search for a permanent chief continues, Barker said she hopes her performance will demonstrate she should remain in the role.