BY DAVID IZRAELEVITZ
Candidate for Los Alamos County Sheriff

Los Alamos, alone among the 33 Counties in New Mexico, delegates all law enforcement responsibilities to the Chief of Police. Similarly, all summons, subpoenas, and similar civil actions are also handled by the Police Department. Finally, as a practical matter, Police staff handle the Sex Offenders Registry, even though that is formally the only remaining responsibility of the Sheriff.  

This makes sense because only Police staff have the training and expertise to monitor, update, and verify a database so important to our public safety. In short, all public safety in our community is handled by the Police. 

This is as it should be, and it makes sense.

Access to criminal background checks, training for site visits, and sensitive databases should be limited to personnel prepared to perform the duties effectively and professionally. Not only does this promote best performance, but it also minimizes the County’s liability in litigation if these functions are not performed properly.

If Police staff does all law enforcement, civil actions, and maintains the sex offenders registry, what does the Los Alamos County Sheriff do other than collect a paycheck? Over time, it has become a job without responsibilities, one with an office, a separate budget, and even its own entrance to the Judicial Center, but in actuality, it is basically a do-nothing position. The office sits empty; administrative support does all the work, and the separate entrance is never used.

I am working hard to be your next Los Alamos County Sheriff, and will then work just as hard to put together a transition plan and place the abolition of the Sheriff on the November 2028 ballot, allowing plenty of time for an orderly transfer of formal procedures.

Let’s get the job done and make sure the right people handle our community’s safety. It only makes sense.