Sheriff to advise residents on anti-crime tactics
January 22, 2010
Trying to reduce skyrocketing burglaries, the Valencia County Sheriff’s Department will begin a new program in 2010 to advise people one-on-one about how to protect their homes and businesses from crime.
During 2009, burglaries were up more than 71 percent throughout the county.
Late last year Sheriff Rene Rivera hired three new deputies who have been tasked with targeting criminals in Highland Meadows, Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission, and Jarales and Rio Communities.
“We have three deputies with one supervisor, and we have determined patrol grids within the county,” said Captain Don Donges.
The county has been engaging these deputies in partnerships with community groups, churches and schools, to offer better protection in the targeted areas.
“We have set a realistic goal of reducing burglary crimes in this county by 10 percent in 2010,” he said.
Now Rivera plans to use those same officers patrolling those communities to speak with residents about anti-crime tactics, partly to develop relationships with residents and business owners.
“Those three officers are still out there patrolling, but they are also making contact with the individuals, with the people out there, to gain their trust,” Rivera said, adding, “We’re trying to be proactive, not reactive.”
Residents and business owners will be able to call the sheriff’s department and set up an appointment for a deputy or another department employee to conduct a security assessment of the property and discuss low-cost, common sense measures a person can take to protect it.
Commissioners expressed some concern that deputies would be too overwhelmed with these surveys and not be spending enough time patrolling and stopping crime.
“This could take a lot of time. I hope you’re prepared to address it,” said Commission Chairman Don Holliday.
Holliday was concerned the department was taking valuable time away from deputies who could be patrolling, instead placing them at individual residences and businesses conducting assessments.
Commissioner Ron Gentry said the department appeared to be turning deputies into public relations spokespersons.
“We’ve had complaints in our communities that there weren’t enough officers on patrol, so this commission funded three officers and a supervisor to put them on patrol,” Gentry said.
Donges said the department needs to help people protect their homes and businesses while developing positive relationships throughout the county, which will in the long run help reduce the crime rate.
“Our next step in our process is our five-year strategic plan where there is going to be a decentralization of services, and we are going to become more proactive and form more partnerships with our communities,” he said.
Commissioner Pedro Rael said there’s no difference between a deputy driving up and down a street and being parked and walking residences and businesses with their owners.
“I don’t see any difference between the two because they’re out there doing their jobs in the community like they’re supposed to be anyway,” he said.
The sheriff’s department will continue to move forward with the program.
Other than burglaries, crime rates in other areas have mostly dropped, with the exception of rape.
Overall, crime is down nine percent when compared to 2008. The homicide rate is down six percent.
Rape, which in New Mexico is referred to as criminal sexual contact or penetration, is up 44 percent.
“Generally people would say, ‘Oh my god, there’s a rapist running around Valencia County.’ That’s not true.” Donges said, noting that most sex crimes are committed within families and among friends.
Assaults decreased nine percent. Armed robbery is down 38 percent, larceny is down more than 70 percent, and auto thefts are down 51 percent.
Donges said citizens who criticized the department during the last year complained most about deputies’ conduct when responding to a call and about the use of force.
“It’s the sheriff’s policy that every complaint we receive either verbally or in writing will be investigated by a supervisor,” he said.
Posted in: Police