Decker: Investigations in place

Three deputies from the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office have been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of internal and external investigations.

McKinley County Attorney Doug Decker did not release the names of the deputies involved in a physical altercation at a house party at an address on or near West Hill Avenue in Gallup Jan. 6.

In explaining the matter, Decker said the incident stems from a Jan. 9 citizen complaint to McKinley County Sheriff Ron Silversmith. The citizen revealed that there was some kind of altercation involving at least one local deputy that sent an unknown young male to an Albuquerque hospital.

Decker did not reveal the name of the person taken to the hospital, but that individual was released and is back home in Gallup, according to information posted on the KRQE TV website.

Decker said an investigation of the matter is now underway by the New Mexico State Police. The initial investigation was put into the hands of the state police so as to avoid bias, he said. After the state investigation completes itself, the county will do its own separate internal investigation and another investigation will be done by Universal Investigation Services of Albuquerque. The latter could cost the county as much as $3,000, Decker said.

Decker said once the full investigatory processes are complete, then personnel action by the county, if deemed necessary, would be handed down.

Regarding the further release of information, Decker said something concrete on the matter should be available in about two weeks.

There are about three dozen deputies that work at the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office. Decker said there won’t be problems covering any specified areas for MCSO, saying various deputies might have to pull double-duty at times.

If there are charges to come out of the matter that aspect of things could come out of the initial state police investigation, Decker noted.

“It’s an unfortunate circumstance, but right now we have to wait until the entire matter runs its course,” he said.

By Bernie Dotson
Sun Correspondent