By Rene Romo
Albuquerque Journal
LAS CRUCES — Luna County Sheriff Raymond Cobos urged Columbus trustees to suspend three remaining police officers last week so they could be thoroughly vetted after the arrest of the mayor, police chief and a trustee in a federal gun smuggling case.
Cobos said that with the arrest of Police Chief Angelo Vega, he decided to suspend the village police department’s access to Luna County dispatch services last Thursday until the village’s three officers could be independently reviewed for any involvement in the smuggling activities.
Cobos noted that the village police department’s second-in-command, Sgt. Robert Valenzuela, faces a pending stalking case out of Doña Ana County.
“I just don’t have any confidence that their activities have been thoroughly investigated so they are cleared to continue,” Cobos said.
Columbus police calls for service have since been routed through a State Police dispatch center in Las Cruces, village officers said Tuesday. Cobos said he has increased sheriff’s office patrols around the village, as well.
Two off-duty Columbus police officers, who attended arraignments and detention hearings Tuesday for 11 people accused in the smuggling case, said they were carrying on as usual, despite the sheriff’s concerns.
“I understand the concern,” said Officer Derek Smith. “It will take a while to develop public trust, but we are working hard to cover the village and make sure it’s safe.”
With the arrests Thursday of Mayor Eddie Espinoza and trustee Blas Gutierrez, the son of mayor pro-tempore and fellow trustee Roberto Gutierrez, Columbus’ governing body is left with only three trustees, the bare minimum for a quorum needed to hold public meetings. A federal magistrate ordered Espinoza and Blas Gutierrez held without bond Tuesday.
Trustee William “Bud” Canfield said he had “mixed feelings” about the sheriff’s recommendation, noting that when Espinoza tried to disband the village police department in late 2008, the move created an uproar.
“It would be easy to let them (Luna County sheriff’s deputies) take over,” Canfield said. “There’s a lot of people in town who are against that, and I have to do what my constituents want.”
In any event, Canfield said, the governing board cannot meet to decide what to do until trustee Roberto Gutierrez, who has been tied up with the defense of Blas Gutierrez, as well as a daughter also indicted in the case, is available. Canfield said he hopes Mayor Espinoza and Blas Gutierrez resign from office so replacements can be found and the village can operate with a full complement of elected officials.
Copyright 2011 Albuquerque Journal