Bernalillo County Sheriff announces unit to patrol parts of Albuquerque

There’s a sheriff in town.

The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office announced Wednesday that it has dedicated a four-person unit to patrol the streets of Albuquerque.

BCSO spokeswoman Jayme Gonzales said Mayor Tim Keller asked Sheriff John Allen for help in Downtown, but Allen “is concerned and sees a huge need to hit areas all over Bernalillo County, especially the Albuquerque Metro.”

And so, the BCSO Metro Unit was born.

In a statement, Allen said the unit — made up of a sergeant and three deputies — is “a key step forward in our strategy to combat crime and enhance public safety across Albuquerque.”

“By focusing on proactive policing and community engagement, we are better positioned to address the specific needs of the areas we serve,” he said.

Staci Drangmeister, a spokeswoman for Keller, said “Youth gun crime is on the rise downtown, so we reached out to Sheriff Allen to join our efforts and appreciate that BCSO can help.”

“In general, we welcome any additional resources to help us fight crime, from a special session on public safety to BCSO’s Metro Unit,” she said.

Gonzales said the Metro Unit will be a “100% proactive patrol” and will not take calls for service in the city, as those are the responsibility of the Albuquerque Police Department.

“The Metro Unit is designed as a solely proactive team that will focus on patrolling and carrying out duties across the county, primarily focusing on high-need areas within the Albuquerque metro,” she said.

Gonzales said the idea for the unit has been rattling around in Allen’s head since he took office. She said that with BCSO staffing levels at a higher level, Allen was able to make it happen.

Gonzales said the unit conducted its first operation on Saturday along Central in Southeast Albuquerque. She said they arrested 12 people — nine of them on felonies — and seized a handgun and “user amounts” of fentanyl and methamphetamine.

Gonzales said APD has not asked for help from BCSO.

“We hope to combine resources and have requested joint efforts on multiple occasions. We hope to get more cooperation from APD as this is a continuous issue,” she said. “Albuquerque is in our county, and we will work in all areas which concern the sheriff.”

Gonzales would not elaborate on what joint efforts had been requested that APD didn’t cooperate with.

APD spokesman Gilbert Gallegos said a BCSO undersheriff recently met with a deputy chief “to discuss the unit.”

He added, “I don’t know what all they have planned, but they will help with Downtown on weekends.”

Gallegos did not have further details.

Gonzales said members of the Metro Unit are trained in general patrol, tactical operations, investigations, undercover work and “crucial de-escalation tactics.”

“This diverse skill set ensures that the unit is well equipped to handle various situations that may arise in the field,” she said. “As the unit proves effective and as staffing levels permit, the Sheriff’s Office plans to expand this team to extend their reach further.

“This expansion will be carefully managed to ensure that it complements our ongoing commitments to the unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County, maintaining strong law enforcement coverage throughout the region.”