Sandoval Sheriff campaigns on the job

Rio Rancho, NM - Sandoval County Sheriff John Paul Trujillo finds himself in the middle of a new controversy.

News 13 obtained a copy of a memo from Sandoval County Manager Juan Vigil to Sandoval County Sheriff's Department employees.

The memo alleges that "Sheriff Trujillo, in full color of uniform, displaying his badge of office, approached employees during working hours, asking that they sign a petition endorsing Undersheriff Timothy Lucero for sheriff in the next general election."

The memo also states that the petition was drafted on official county letterhead.

The memo concludes that county personnel are prohibited from engaging in political activity during hours of work.

Sheriff Trujillo acknowledged the incident to News 13 on Tuesday and was told by Vigil to destroy the petition.

"Yes," Trujillo said. "He (Vigil) said to stop and do not put anymore signatures out and I said, 'Sure, I'll do that. That's no problem at all.'"

Trujillo says he started the petition inside his own department to prove a point.

He says he did it to show that the Sandoval County Deputies Association was exaggerating when it said the vast majority of his deputies support Lucero's opponent, Deputy Doug Wood, and think Trujillo's job performance has damaged the reputation of the department.

He was also quick to point out that he can campaign and support political candidates.

"As an elected official, I can endorse Tim Lucero as Sheriff and that's the way it is," Trujillo said.

When asked if it's okay to do that through a petition on county time, Trujillo responded, "No. Actually, it could have been done differently. Like out here in the public I can do that on my time. Of course, I'm always on duty, but, it doesn't matter. But, I can do that."

Lucero, running as a Democrat, says he was not aware that Sheriff Trujillo was floating the petition around the department until after the fact.

Lucero's Republican opponent, Deputy Doug Wood, did not return our calls for comment.

Earlier this year, a group criticized Sheriff Trujillo for not helping the wife of a slain deputy raise money to get to Washington where her husband was being honored.

Trujillo was back in the news last month after police say he refused to pull over for speeding in Albuquerque and then took his time getting out of his unmarked vehicle, which had cops drawing their guns.