OPINION: Rebuilding trust in law enforcement will make a safer community

The ongoing law enforcement DWI corruption scandal and other misconduct involving law enforcement agencies in New Mexico cast a long shadow over the profession. It has eroded public confidence and raised difficult — but necessary — questions about the culture within some agencies. These violations of trust don’t just make headlines — they harm real relationships between law enforcement and the people they serve. When trust is lost, public safety is at risk: The two go hand in hand.

Research shows effective policing and crime reduction often depends on the public’s trust, which fosters public compliance and collaboration, and empowers officers to perform their responsibilities to the community effectively.

When law enforcement officers are sworn in, they take an oath to always maintain the highest ethical standards. This oath is not just a ceremonial pledge; it is a solemn promise. Yet, recent events have exposed how fragile trust is when that trust is broken.

This is not a new challenge. In the 1970’s the story of New York Police Department officer Frank Serpico captivated the nation. Refusing to participate in widespread corruption, Serpico was ostracized by his peers and ignored by his superiors. More than 50 years later, that story still resonates today.

During my nearly 25 years in law enforcement — including my time as section commander to Internal Affairs — I witnessed both the strength of good officers and the deep harm caused by those who strayed. In my capacity as an officer and later as an attorney, I served as a member of committees and taskforces whose purpose was to facilitate better policing. Although strides were made, continued oversight is necessary for accountability.

Corruption at any level is a betrayal of the public trust and a stain on the profession. Worse, it undermines the dedication of officers who wear the badge with honor. These professionals face danger every day and we have mourned officers lost to violence in the line of duty. Their legacy should not be tainted by the selfishness or criminality of a few. Some in our community might just see the uniform and not the officer wearing it. Unfortunately, that is what happens when misconduct occurs.

A 2023 survey by the Council on Criminal Justice revealed that only 48% of Americans now say they have a great deal of confidence in the police. That number is more than symbolic — it’s a warning sign. In 2017, that figure was 57%. The downward trend tells us that something must change.

That change begins with accountability. When officers use excessive force or break the law in other ways, they must be held fully accountable, without exception or protection. However, accountability cannot be reactive alone. Law enforcement agencies must cultivate a proactive culture of integrity. That means ethical leadership at every level — command staff who set the tone and supervisors who model the behavior they expect. A history and demonstration of high ethical standards should be a cornerstone for promotion.

Ethics training and oversight matter, but so does the day-to-day culture of the workplace. Officers must feel empowered to speak up when they see wrongdoing and leadership must be willing to listen and act.

Apathy and complacency by the community and police leadership can be an enabler of unethical behavior. We must stay engaged while demanding accountability and transparency of our law enforcement agencies.

As a lifelong public servant, I believe in the good that professional law enforcement can and does achieve. We have seen the difference that honorable officers make. But we also know that trust, once broken, is difficult to rebuild. Upholding that standard is not optional—it is essential.