N.M. Residents Are Eager to Have Their Own Police

COLUMBUS - When federal agencies raided the small New Mexico town of Columbus last year to stop a smuggling operation they allege was sending guns into the drug war across the border, they left a trail of indictments that gutted the tiny municipality's leadership - eviscerating its police department - and leaving residents leery of having their community patrolled by outside law enforcement.

"There were two police early this morning giving tickets, making people late for work," complained Alejandro Zapata, a resident of Columbus for more than 20 years, as he pointed to a street corner where he said New Mexico State Police were handing out citations Thursday morning. "People said somebody put out a report that we needed more police. We don't. We have our policeman, and it's Ojeda. We don't need any more than him."

The Ojeda to whom he is referring is Jose Ojeda, a corporal from the Luna County Sheriff's Department who in July 2011 was reassigned from the nearby city of Deming to patrol its smaller neighbor of Columbus, which sits about 50 miles to the south.

Ojeda has been patrolling the estimated 750 homes in Columbus since July 7. That's the day the Village Council voted to dissolve its police department after Police Chief Angelo Vega; Mayor Eddie Espinoza; and a trustee, Blas Gutierrez, were among 11 defendants charged in an 84-count federal indictment that ultimately linked them to an arms' smuggling operation that provided Mexican cartels with firearms.

Sheriff takes over

When the five-member Columbus police force was eradicated, Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos moved to absorb their patrol routes, creating a plan to keep Columbus monitored 24 hours a day with his Luna County deputies.

"Once the police chief was arrested, and the mayor and other individuals, we got involved because there was no law enforcement," said Luna County Sheriff's Department Capt. Arturo Baeza, a spokesman for the department.

Since then, the Luna County Sheriff's Department has racked up expenses of between $17,000 and $18,000 a month to pay the salaries, overtime and fuel costs necessary to patrol Columbus.

Baeza added that Columbus would most likely be a permanent part of the sheriff's patrol because "I don't see them ever getting a police department ever back on its feet," he said.

The presence of Luna County sheriff's deputies in Columbus would be a problem for some people, acknowledged Baeza.

"I am sure there are people there who really didn't want us down there," he said. "They kind of resent us going over there, I'm sure."

One of these is Walter Simpson, a resident of more than 30 years and a captain with the Columbus Fire Department. Simpson said he doesn't like the assumption from Luna County that his town will not ever have the capacity to sustain its own police department.

"That's the way (Sheriff) Cobos would like it, too. He would like total control of us down here. He would like us to be under his thumb," said Simpson, who was adamant that one day Columbus would sort out its finances and again open its police department.

"It's going to happen. We are very positive down here, regardless of what people think. When I say people, I'm talking about the people in Deming," said Simpson. "They have always treated us like a red-headed step child. And I'm talking about the county. We are going to be just fine. We will pull through it. We have have some good people down in there now at City Hall taking care of business the best they can, and they are doing a pretty damn good job."

New mayor

Nicole Lawson, appointed as Columbus mayor in June to replace her jail-bound predecessor, is the town's 37-year-old Emergency Medical Technician who is now assigned to clean up the town's finances.

The task, she said, is proving to be difficult

"It's frustrating, and it's hard. I have such dedicated workers, and I have to send them home," she said about staff who is working late to help her sort through the finances. "I understand me staying late. But I have a mom of three in there working until midnight, then up at six and doing it again."

Before Columbus can consider starting its own police force again, she said, the finances would have to be straightened out, and the city would need to become profitable. To do this, she said a 30-year loan for $700,000 might be necessary. She also said a forensic audit into the town's money trail is part of fixing it's woes.

"Somebody will be held responsible for what happened" to the town's finances, said Lawson, whose term ends in March of 2014.

Lawson said she can understand why people in her community would be frustrated by the myriad problems now engulfing their town.

"I share your frustration," she said, when asked what message she would send to her town. "Please don't give up. Stay involved. This is your community. Don't ever close your eyes or back down. The money that goes to that office is your money. The things that are done should be done to serve you."

One of the Luna County Sheriff's deputies who is now patrolling Columbus said he was concerned less with politics than with the danger that he says still exists in the small border town.

"There is still an element in Columbus that certainly does not want an independent law enforcement oversight, which the sheriff's department provides," said Luna County Sheriff Lt. Robert Odom. "These are certain groups of people in town who have a history of being involved in criminal activity. Most people here won't talk to you about it because they are afraid."

Reyes Mata III can be reached at (575) 541-5405.

By the numbers

Number of calls for Columbus, N.M. from September to December 2011 that were handled by the Luna County Sheriff's Department:

Citations: 34

Traffic stops: 100

Vehicle searches: 12

Arrests: 17

Deaths: 1

Crashes: 5

Citizens assistance: 42

Incident reports: 91

Contacts: 450