Sheriff pulls deputies off night duty

ESPAÑOLA, N.M. (KRQE) - Rio Arriba County sheriff's deputies will no longer patrol or respond to calls for service after 8 p.m.

Sheriff Tommy Rodella said the new schedule change will address shortages during the day.

Rodella said he has 22 deputies in a county that stretches from Española to Colorado. Deputies are also in charge of transporting inmates to and from court and providing court security.

Rodella said he should have about 40 deputies but doesn't have the money to hire them.

"The real high peak hour of activity is 3 o'clock," said Rodella. "With this new schedule change, what it allows us to do is put many deputies out in the field right at that peak hour."

Deputies will now cover two shifts: the first from 6 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the second from 11 a.m. to 8 p.m.

"At 8 o'clock, the activity is already on the decline and calls are not much," said Rodella.

But critics said the calls may slow down but the crime doesn't in a county that is known to have a major drug and drunken-driving problem.

"It is not helpful for Rio Arriba County to not have patrol from 8 p.m., 24 hours a day actually," said Rodella.

Rodella said deputies will be on call to respond after 8 p.m. if there is ever an emergency.

Rodella said New Mexico State Police are also part of the problem, claiming officers flat out refuse to share the caseload during the day when deputies are busy with other duties.

"We've been carrying those 911 calls," Rodella said. "I'd hope they would help out."

But Lt. Eric Garcia with State Police said Rodella's claim is simply not true. He said officers have always responded to calls.

"Regardless of what the Rio Arriba Sheriff's Office does, we're going to be at the forefront to handle business," said Garcia. "The sheriff is going to have to answer that question to his constituents.

"We won't have to because we're going to be there."