I took office as Santa Fe County Sheriff to serve my first term on January 1, 2019. I am currently serving my second term which ends January 1, 2027.

I was born in Santa Fe and raised in the traditional village of La Cieneguilla in Santa Fe County. I am one of four siblings and have a 24-year-old daughter. I am 52 years old. I hold a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology from the University of New Mexico (1995). I began working with Santa Fe County in 1996 as a Code Enforcement Officer for the Land Use Department. I transitioned into a career in law enforcement in 1998. I graduated from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy with distinction, delivering the valedictory address to my graduating class. After graduation I began work as a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Deputy where I served for 18 ½ years. I have served the entirety of my law enforcement career at the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office.  I progressed through the rank’s as a Sheriff’s Deputy patrolman, and advanced to Investigative Detective. As a Detective I was assigned to both the Property Crime and Violent Crime Divisions. I served on the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office SWAT team for 14 years as an operator and SWAT Commander. I rose in the ranks at the Sheriff’s Office and became a supervisor and administrator. I held command positions including Corporal, Sergeant, Lieutenant, Captain and Major. When I retired in 2016 I was the third highest-ranking commissioned Sheriff’s Deputy in Santa Fe County.  After my retirement in 2016, I worked as a substitute teacher and coached high school football.

I consider myself having been brought up in the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office which is one reason I made the decision to run for Sheriff, in hopes of continuing to make a difference, not only for the Office but for the community we serve. As Sheriff, my administration has led this organization into a new era of technology and we provide exemplary public service as we continue to innovate and modernize this agency.