Bernalillo County deputies headed back to TV

Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office deputies will make their return to reality TV three years after stepping away from "On Patrol: Live" — a law enforcement program that covers agencies from across the country.

"We paused participation in January 2023 as Sheriff Allen took office to focus on staffing, training, and morale," BCSO wrote on Facebook in early January. "With progress made, we’re considering whether returning could increase transparency and highlight the professionalism of our deputies."

The department posted a poll seeking public input in the same post and, out of 5,800 votes, more than 95% of people voted BCSO should return to “On Patrol: Live,” which has camera crews going on ride-alongs with deputies and officers as they go about their shift.  

According to a statement from BCSO, an internal poll also showed strong support, as 85% of deputies and staff voted to return to the television program. When BCSO paused participation in the show in 2023, Allen had said he wanted to take the time to focus on other priorities. 

At the time, the BCSO Advisory and Review Board had also discussed the department's presence in the television show and recommended that deputies cease participating.

At the board's meeting, people shown interacting with BCSO on the program had expressed distaste in being filmed during serious events. One couple who appeared on the show after getting into a car crash told the board they did not want to be filmed and deputies were not empathetic to their situation. 

The board at the time said if BCSO continued the show, they should give people the opportunity to opt out of being filmed.

Matthew Ray, the current chair of the board, said the board has not discussed BCSO's potential participation in the show again, but added that he expects the topic to come up in a future meeting. 

"The board did review BCSO’s prior participation and outlined concerns in its 2022 Annual Report, which reflected a range of public views," Ray said.

He urged members of the public to reach out with comments, concerns or recommendations on how BCSO should handle their return to television.

BCSO officials say there is no confirmed timeline and any future participation would include oversight and boundaries to ensure the focus remains on public safety and professionalism. 

Jayme Gonzales, a BCSO spokesperson, said that, as of Wednesday, there are no updates or confirmed start dates. 

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.