Martinez questions Magdalena law enforcement response

County Commissioner Ray Martinez expressed concern of rising crime and for the safety of the village of Magdalena at last week’s county meeting.

During County Sheriff Lee Armijo’s report, Martinez asked about an armed robbery incident that happened at a store in Magdalena.

“I understand it took over an hour for law enforcement force to get there, and I’m not blaming you guys or blaming anybody, it’s like I tell the public, we need to get better at this because calling 911, when there’s an extreme emergency, having to wait…it kind of concerns me, because it could have been a lot worse. And you know, in Magdalena recently, we’ve had some robberies.” Martinez said.

Martinez said there were also two reports of recent gun robberies from Magdalena residences’ and a side by side was also taken in one incident.

“We also had an individual that they found passed away on the street there. I still haven’t found out what happened to him,” Martinez said.

Martinez also shared that he had tried to help someone who couldn’t get a hold of any law enforcement. They called 911 and couldn’t get a hold of anyone. The closest officer was State Police, who was in Truth or Consequences.

“People are scared, and rightfully so. We need to get better; like I said, I’m not blaming you guys or anybody. All as a group, we need to get better because the criminal activity is getting worse.” Martinez said.

Sheriff Armijo said that with the armed robbery incident, as soon as the call came out his deputies were sent out immediately.

“They (dispatch) were trying to get the Magdalena agency out there, and they refused to go; they refused to respond to the robbery right there.” Armijo said, “So where the lag was when we got dispatched compared to when the call came up.”

Commissioner Glen Duggins asked the Sheriff if the Magdalena Marshal was allowed to refuse to respond.

Armijo said he couldn’t speak to what the marshal has worked out with the Mayor of Magdalena. He said they have two certified officers and one uncertified and that they often refuse to respond.

“Sometimes they have a rookie out, and he does the best he can,” Armijo said.

Martinez and Duggins discussed having a state police stationed near Magdalena. Armijo said the State Police are short-staffed right now, but that sometimes that changes.

Martinez said the procedure is to call 911, “Whoever they send It could be a county sheriff, it could be a state police, it could be a village officer.”

“We have no control over who they dispatch and what time they dispatch and how long it takes to send us. Unfortunately, that’s just that’s a hard part.” Armijo said.

Lee reported that two Sheriff deputies are in Magdalena two or three days a week. He said he’s heard comments asking, ‘Why are they there?’

“It’s kind of a weird deal these days,” Armijo said.

Armijo offered to attend the next Magdalena Village meeting with Martinez for further discussion.