Sheriff touts community police program

February 26, 2010

Valencia County Sheriff Rene Rivera this month touted his department’s community police program that puts deputies in communities around the county.

“We all need to get together to address problems in Valencia County,” he said.

The program started in October when Rivera hired three new deputies. Those deputies were assigned full-time to Meadow Lake and El Cerro Mission, Jarales-Bosque and Rio Communities, and Highland Meadows.

“I’m getting deputies to work in certain areas of the county and only in those areas,” he said.

The deputies are tasked with not only patrolling to proactively reduce crime, but they also meet regularly with residents and business owners, people Rivera hopes will becomes his departments eyes and ears.

“They get to know the people. They get to know the areas where we have problems,” he said.

The deputy assigned to Jarales-Bosque and Rio Communities had to leave the department last month. That meant those areas didn’t have a deputy for a few weeks, causing some angst among residents and two county commissioners.

Since then, Rivera has assigned Deputy Chris Trujillo to the area.

To get to know his area, Trujillo spends most of his time there, patrolling and attending community meetings, stopping by businesses and talking with people.

He also gives out his cell phone number to anyone who wants it.

“I’m single. I’m always available,” Trujillo quipped.

Trujillo said the sheriff’s department has made a commitment to community policing, and the way to make it successful is for his cell phone to ring. If he doesn’t get calls with tips and concerns, he said he can’t thwart crime.

“I’m one officer committed to these areas in southern Valencia County,” he said. “I’m committed to being in these areas at all times, not only for the residences but for businesses as well.”

Trujillo schedules meetings with businesses, like Allsup’s, Dollar General and Al’s Mini Mart in Rio Communities, where he trained owners and employees in safety and ways to reduce shoplifting.

Because of a recent rise in motor vehicle thefts in Rio Communities, Trujillo and Rivera are planning to catch the thieves using a decoy vehicle.

Rivera said it’s not just the big crimes he wants to address through the community police program, but even things like illegally dumped trash and graffiti.

“To take care of the problems, it’s going to take all of us working together. The people are my voice,” Rivera said.

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