Police Chief Candidates Interviewed for Upcoming LA Police Department

~Anne Boswell

Las Animas Mayor Charles Shupe spent the better part of a Wednesday interviewing candidates for the position of Las Animas Police Chief.

Shupe explains the process to put together and fund a police department for the town, has moved quickly as this only started in February of 2025. A committee was formed to meet to decide if it was possible.

"I wrote my first grant ever in my whole life for $250,000 for equipment, for computers, body cameras, cameras for the car, computers for the car. I got accepted for $225,000 of that $250,000."

And so, Shupe is now looking for someone to lead the department. After posting the position on-line at an on-line job board, Indeed.com, they received 21 interested candidates. The committee reviewed the candidates applications, and experience and narrowed down the list to six candidates.

After interviewing the six candidates it was narrowed down again to three, who Shupe said he will take and present to City Council. From there, a plan for a Meet and Greet for the residents of Las Animas will be planned. The date or time is not yet set for the Meet and Greet. We will continue to follow this story and update you when we know.

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