Messages from Daniel

Last night, I had the opportunity to attend an Americans for Prosperity New Mexico event focused on strengthening our state, starting at the community level. Former Lt. Governor John Sanchez said something that stuck with me: real change starts from the bottom up. That’s what I believe, too!

I’ve spent my career addressing this issue in the community I love, working to improve the system from the inside out. Keeping San Juan County safe takes more than making arrests. It takes effective public safety policies, real accountability, and programs that actually work.

This tournament is a point of pride for our community. It’s a chance to welcome the best 18U players from across the country and an opportunity to show them what makes Farmington so special.

When people hear the word “jail,” they often think of a place that simply houses criminals to keep the public safe. But the reality is more complex.

Too often, “community policing” gets used as a buzzword, its true meaning lost. For me, it was never just a slogan. It was how I did the job every day as a deputy, and it’s still how I approach my work as the detention center administrator.