Kimball Council approves appointment of new Police Chief

Kimball Council approves appointment of new Police Chief
The Kimball City Council discusses the appointment of Jose Ruiz as the city’s new Police Chief (courtesy photo)
May 25th, 2023 | Scott Miller

A former Kimball Police Corporal approved as the new Chief of that department is slated to assume his new duties June 1.

The Kimball City Council Wednesday approved the appointment of Jose Ruiz to the post. His contract will be the same as his predecessor, with the exception of a starting salary of $88,000, plus family benefits.

Mayor John Morrison said when talking with Ruiz about taking the post, the new Chief’s initial concern was about compensation, but not for himself.

“Before Jose and I even negotiated his salary, he and I talked about what we would be paying the officers he would bring on,” said Morrison. “He was more concerned about how to get good people here, and keep them here, and then we negotiated his salary.”

During comments, Council member Don Muench saw the appointment of Ruiz as a big step forward for the community, saying “This is a first process for cleaning up this town, getting the drugs out of this town and making this a safe place for us. This is a very good move on our behalf, and I’ve heard nothing but good things about Jose, and I think we’re on the right track,” said Muench. “Good things are happening in Kimball, and it’s about time.”

Ruiz was on the Kimball force for nearly two years before leaving last September to join the police department in Imperial. Before his previous stint in Kimball, he was an officer in the Cheyenne, Wyoming police department.

Two candidates were interviewed by the Mayor before the recommendation was presented to the City Council.

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