A NM county fire chief, embroiled in controversy for the past several months, was fired Thursday.
Valencia County Fire Chief Steven Gonzales was charged with impersonating an officer and false imprisonment after he pulled over motorist last month.
He was suspended following the incident after police filed a formal complaint saying he had no authority. Gonzales called dispatchers telling them of the traffic stop, and asking that an officer meet him on the highway.
In May, the chief was suspended after racy photos surfaced. They showed Gonzales and two other fie officers with scantily clad women.
They were taken at a taxpayer-funded trip to a national fire service conference in Indianapolis, KOAT reported.
Gonzales refused to resign, and resumed his position after his suspension for the pictures.
Valencia County Manager Danny Monette told reporters after the bar photos surfaced: "There's been a lot of public outcry..."
