VOTE411 Voter Guide

I bring over 28 years of law enforcement experience, including 10 years as Commander of the Maximum-Security Unit at New Mexico Corrections Department in Santa Fe, NM, three years as a Probation Parole Officer in Los Lunas, NM, and 13 years at Valencia County Sheriff's Office, where I progressed from Deputy to the rank of Sergeant also managing Safer NM Grant. Currently, I serve as a Probation Officer for the Valencia County Drug Court, and I facilitate DWI Education to first offenders.

Conduct regular training for staff, enforce accountability in the Sheriff’s Office, and prioritize community safety with fast response times. Recruit qualified candidates to support departmental growth. Deploy Community Service Aides to help with traffic, alarms, transports, and scene security. Create a Crisis Management Team to assist citizens facing mental health crisis.

Ensure accountability among both Office and Command staff members. Delegate division duties to those with the appropriate expertise. Being the Sheriff, I would make myself accessible to command staff by regularly being present both at the office and out in the field each day.

State statutes mandate that deputies undergo 40 hours of crisis intervention training annually. Furthermore, I recommend forming a Crisis Intervention Team comprised of skilled negotiators who operate independently from law enforcement. This team would engage individuals in crisis, facilitate de-escalation to a stable mental health state, and ensure proper referral to relevant support services for continued assistance.

I bring over 27 years of law enforcement experience, including 12 with VCSO, where I currently serve as the senior Lieutenant. My background includes service as a U.S. Army Military Police officer and Federal Agent with the NNSA. I’ve completed advanced executive law enforcement leadership training at Northwestern University and have a clear plan to shift VCSO from responsive to proactive policing, targeting repeat offenders and drug trafficking to reduce crime and improve our quality of life.

Public safety is my top priority. We currently face violent and property crime rates twice the national average. I will shift the current Sheriff’s Office from a reactive model to a proactive crime fighting organization, focusing on repeat offenders and drug trafficking. I will expand proactive units from its current 10% to over 30%, strengthening investigations, apprehension, and narcotics enforcement. I will also collaborate with federal agencies to remove offenders and protect our community.

I will strengthen the Sheriff’s Office by raising hiring standards, fostering leadership and pride, and building esprit de corps across all ranks. I will expand technology, pursue federal and state grants, update policies to prioritize public safety, and provide specialized training. Deputies will have the tools, training, and support needed to shift the agency to proactive policing, reduce crime, and build stronger, relationships with the community.

As Sheriff, I will ensure VCSO not only meets all state mandated training, including HB 93 on interacting with persons with mental impairments, but exceeds them. All deputies will receive advanced crisis intervention training, and our specialized Crisis Negotiations Team (CNT) will continue intensive crisis negotiations training and response. This three-tiered approach ensures VCSO leads when responding to crisis and effectively managing individuals with mental health challenges or impairments.