Bernalillo County has announced the retirement of Fire Rescue Chief Greg Perez and expressed gratitude for his years of leadership and service. During his time as chief, Perez expanded the department by increasing its fleet and personnel to over 300 members. He oversaw the addition of two new fire stations, opened the Public Safety Training Academy, and initiated construction on station 36. Perez also guided the department through the Covid-19 pandemic and built regional partnerships to improve service delivery across jurisdictional boundaries.
After Perez’s retirement announcement earlier this year, Bernalillo County conducted a nationwide search for his successor. The recruitment process included outreach through high-visibility platforms aimed at senior fire service leaders nationwide, with additional focus on New Mexico, Texas, surrounding states, and professional networks.
The county received 28 applications from across the United States. Ten candidates were selected for interviews by a six-person panel. Three finalists advanced to a final stage that included meetings with BCFR personnel and public events, as well as an assessment center testing various leadership skills. The process concluded with a final interview with the County Manager.
Zachary Lardy has been appointed as the next Fire Chief of Bernalillo County Fire Rescue. Lardy has served more than 19 years at BCFR, including five years as Deputy Chief. He will oversee more than 300 personnel across 14 districts and manage operations, training, budgeting, emergency preparedness, interagency coordination, and compliance. Lardy will be formally introduced to the Bernalillo County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday, September 9.
Meanwhile, concerns about public safety remain in Bernalillo County. The District Attorney has voiced frustration over suspects violating GPS monitor rules and being released without supervision when they are supposed to have monitors in place (https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/bernalillo-county-da-frustrated-over-suspects-breaking-ankle-monitor-rules/). For example, Jawid Yaqubi was accused of aggravated assault involving firearms but was released by a judge despite objections from prosecutors.
