Sandoval County sheriff candidates — Democrats
The Rio Rancho Observer asked the candidates vying for the Democratic nomination for Sandoval County sheriff to submit biographical information and respond to a questionnaire.
Jesse James Casaus, Steve Reynolds and John Paul Trujillo were asked these questions:
1. What do you consider to be the top two responsibilities of the sheriff and how would you fulfill them?
2. What qualities or experiences make you a better candidate to represent the county than your opponents?
3. In terms of crime, what is the biggest challenge facing the Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office and how would you address them?
4. Are you satisfied with the amount of time it takes for deputies to respond to calls that come into dispatch? If not, what would you propose having the county do to improve in that area?
5. Are you satisfied with the level of DWI prevention efforts and enforcement in Sandoval County? If not, what would you propose that Sheriff’s Office do to improve in those areas?
6. How would you ensure the public’s right to know concerning law enforcement activities in the county is safeguarded?
7. Have you or your business, if you are a business owner, ever been the subject of any state or federal tax liens?
8. Have you ever been involved in a personal or business bankruptcy proceeding?
9. Have you ever been arrested for, or charged with, or convicted of drunken driving or any felony in New Mexico or any other state? If so, please explain.
Here are their responses:
Jesse James Casaus.
Jesse James Casaus
Age (on date of election): 39
Party affiliation: Democrat
Residence: Placitas
Education: Liberal arts degree/ New Mexico State Police Academy.
Occupation: Sandoval County sheriff’s deputy.
Family: Married with three children.
Political/government experience: Seven years, New Mexico State Police; six years, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office.
Major professional accomplishment: New Mexico State Police Academy and a degree.
Major personal accomplishment: Family and building a home.
1. The sheriff is responsible for a number of statutory enforcement duties. Although each is extremely important, these are what I consider to be the top two. Civil process: create a civil division whose only responsibility would be to serve civil documents. Sex offender: create a sex offender division responsible for monitoring the actions of the registered sex offenders. This division would also track down sex offenders who have failed to register or are in non-compliance with the law.
2. Qualities: Leadership, honesty, ethics, family values, strong sense of community and logical sense communication. A degree and 13 years of law enforcement duty and liberal arts degree. I have knowledge of the community’s needs, the citizens and the type of criminal activity in the county. I am a deputy alongside the deputies currently serving the county, giving me the knowledge of their needs and concerns. I have training in law enforcement and am aware of the issues involving law enforcement.
3. Drug trafficking and drug use: This issue is widespread not only in the county, but the state and the nation. With a problem of this magnitude, all available resources must be used, to include state and federal agencies. The county must work with the community to attempt to not only arrest offenders, but find ways to treat addiction. DWI: Although deputies are diligent in efforts to curb the DWI problem, it continues to plague the county, state and country. The Sheriff’s Office must continue to work alongside the community with other agencies and lawmakers to stop it.
4. The time it takes to respond to a call for service is and has always been a topic of discussion. The easy answer is more manpower; however, this is not always possible. So in saying that, the Sheriff’s Office can and should do an evaluation of the highest call times, type and location of calls for service. This can assist in manpower deployment during the peak hours and, if necessary, reconfiguring the districts to assist with response times.
5. DWI prevention is one of the crimes that not only affects our county, but the state and the country. Again, deputies are diligent in efforts to curb the DWI problem, however, it is a persistent problem that has grown into an epidemic throughout the country. The Sheriff’s Office must continue to work with all agencies, the community, lawmakers and District Attorney’s Office to impact this epidemic. Services to aid those with addiction to alcohol must be researched and implemented.
6. The public has a right know the activities of the Sheriff’s Office and this right will be up- held should I have the honor of being elected. In some cases and during ongoing critical investigations, this information cannot be released as to not compromise the investigation. The protection of the investigation and the welfare of any persons involved in an investigation is extremely critical in solving the case and the prosecution of that case.
7. No.
8. No.
9. No.
Steve Reynolds.
Steve Reynolds
Age: (on date of election) 61
Party affiliation: Democrat
Residence: Rio Rancho
Education: U.S. Army 101st Airborne specialized training/military personnel specialist/military legal specialist/military records management/military presidential protection; Kirkland Air Force Base, Albuquerque, communications; University of Albuquerque, liberal arts; University of New Mexico, forensic science; presently pursuing criminal justice degree; graduate of New Mexico Police Academy; 31 years of required state and federal continuous advanced training, management and command level; New Mexico Corrections/Detention, command level certification, state and federal.
Occupation: Retired detective lieutenant, Sandoval County Sheriff’s Office; had command over the Bureau of Criminal Investigations, Narcotics Division and the Internal Affairs Division. Prior to retirement, had command over the Patrol/Field Services Division, Court Security and the Civil Division. Presently, a captain with command over the Criminal Investigations Division, Internal Affairs Division and the National Crime Information Center at the Sandoval County Detention Center.
Family: Married for 42 wonderful years, two wonderful sons and six beautiful grand children.
Political/government experience: Thirty-two years government-law enforcement experience and three years government military experience.
Major professional accomplishment: My success in the Father Martinez and Father Mack homicide investigations in the Jemez Springs area. Both yielded a first-degree murder conviction. My success of the six-year Lisa Duncan homicide investigation in Bernalillo and Albuquerque, which yielded a first-degree murder conviction. My determination to bring closure to the families of victims of violent crimes. Multiple letters of recognition and appreciation from all five sherif’s I worked under, District Attorney’s Office and District Judge Office. Multiple successful criminal investigations for seventeen years in the areas of homicide/violent crimes, sex crimes, property crimes/crimes against children, narcotics, internal affairs and an additional six years in field services of DWI, domestic violence, court security and civil Service. Deputy of the Year, Law Enforcement Officer of the Year from Haven House, Outstanding Criminal Investigation Award.
Major personal accomplishment: Service to my country in the U.S. Army. Law enforcement service to my community for the past 31 years. My wife of 42 years, two sons and six grandchildren.
1. Provide the highest quality of law enforcement possible and to protect our diverse communities of Sandoval County. I would accomplish and fulfill these responsibilities through my 31 years of professional law enforcement experience and knowledge of the criminal justice system. I would work through community outreach, my leadership and motivational skills, my administrative experience and my professionalism as well as an open line of communication both internally and externally.
2. My management level of law enforcement with 31 years of professional service to Sandoval County with extensive experience, advanced training, education and knowledge within the criminal justice system. I have the experience of working with five sheriffs, four district attorneys and two department directors. I will be instrumental in implementing a strategic vision, direction and values to provide a variety of traditional and innovative programs designed to encourage the development of successful community policing and crime prevention programs.
3. Manpower, working within the budget restraints and lack of proactive law enforcement. I would work with county government, grant writers and other agencies to acquire finances to provide additional manpower. Be proactive through community outreach and educate officers and community in the art of being proactive. Communicate with and maintain a partnership with multiple law enforcement agencies, government agencies and the media to enhance and provide the highest quality of law enforcement service possible.
4. I am not aware of the response time. However, the response time depends on many variables such as weather, time of day/night the call came in, traffic and the distance of the responding officer to the calling party. Although the response time is important, I believe the responding officer should always comply with state law and department policy such as speed and should always use extreme caution.
5. No. Although they are doing a little better than the previous administration, I believe it can be even better. First of all, the “sheriff” needs to get involved to appropriate the funds to increase the DWI/traffic unit. Even just one additional officer can save a life. Work with other law enforcement agencies to enhance more frequent DWI check points and patrols.
6. Community outreach and accessibility of the sheriff through monthly meetings and an open-door policy to the public. Maintain a partnership and relationship with our community.
7. In 2004, we had to pay tax to the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department. Our choice was to pay this off in one year and face no lien, or enter into an agreement to pay the taxes within an 18-month period, which would result in a lien for six months. Due to our financial situation, we chose to pay the tax within the 18-month period. The lien was removed once payment in full was received.
8. No.
9. No.
John Paul Trujillo.
John Paul Trujillo
Age (on date of election): 54
Party affiliation: Democrat
Residence: Rio Rancho
Education: 12
Occupation: Retired
Family: Married
Political/governme/nt experience: Two-term sheriff.
Major professional accomplishment: Graduated from the F.B.I Academy, Quantico, Va.
Major personal accomplishment: Graduated from the National Sheriffs Academy.
1. Responsibility to protect the citizens’ dignity, life and property, and also put back in place community projects, child ID, senior fraud programs and safety.
2. Proven record of low crime, drop of violent crimes in the schools, fast response to calls for service. I was efficient between 2002-2010 when I was sheriff.
3. Again, decreasing the response times to calls, placing deputies appropriately in areas of higher crime and additional deputies to cover the Class A county (pop.100,000-plus) which we are.
4. It appears to me that response times need to be refocused on areas of concern throughout the county.
5. Between 2002 and 2010, Sandoval County was No. 1 in DWI prosecutions. That is no longer the case. This needs to be re-established.
6. As sheriff, I submitted monthly reports and criminal activity statistics to all news outlets, as well as state agencies. I believe that the citizens have the right to know what is going on in the department, and I have always held myself personally accountable.
7. No.
8. No.
9. No.