Our Leadership

New Mexico State Police Chief Tim Johnson began his law enforcement career as a New Mexico State Police recruit in 2000 and has worked with the agency and the Department of Public Safety ever since, building a reputation as a leader with the fortitude to tackle entrenched organizational issues. Following several assignments to various investigation teams focusing on DWIs, homicides, warrant arrests and white collar crime, Johnson was promoted to executive leadership and management of the Investigations Bureau in 2015 and most recently oversaw the Criminal Investigations and Impact Teams, Narcotics Unit, Special Investigations Division, Technical Unit, and Criminal Enforcement Unit. Over the course of his career, Johnson has worked in every commissioned section, division and bureau of the Department of Public Safety, developing diverse and comprehensive leadership experience as well as hands-on understanding. Johnson also has experience working with federal agencies following his time on the Border Operations Task Force, where he served as a supervisor of other narcotics agents.

Johnson earned an associate’s degree from the New Mexico Military Institute and a bachelor’s in criminal justice from Huron University in Huron, S.D.