A great sheriff

It is a great honor to write this endorsement on behalf of a true law enforcement professional, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza, who has announced his intention to seek reelection. During the past several years, he has displayed unwavering integrity to moral and ethical values. As a result, he has gone above and beyond to keep several communities safe. I have also been impressed with the empathy and compassion he has shown for others. It has allowed him to understand what people, both suspects and victims alike, are going through. This has helped build trust and needed rapport with several communities. He was responsible for implementing critical and proactive public health and safety measures to protect his deputies and the people he is sworn to serve during the coronavirus pandemic.

Adan has additionally expanded the sex offender registration program and secured funding to expand the sheriff’s office. He has also shown a proclivity to anticipate, adapt and overcome challenges in his dayto-day role. Not all law enforcement professionals have this ability. Adan has great verbal and written communications skills to deal with a diversity of people who now seek his advice and guidance. He was appointed by Gov. Michelle Grisham Lujan to serve on the board of the Santa Fe Regional Communications Center, which handles the emergency needs of the county. In my 31 years as a DEA agent, I have worked with law enforcement officials throughout the world and none is better than Adan.

Michael S. Vigil Former DEA chief of international operations Albuquerque