Todd Garrison, candidate for Doña Ana County Sheriff
Name: Todd Garrison
Age: 62
Party: Democratic
Occupation: Co-owner of Garrison Family Farms
Relevant Experience
I have over 31 years of law enforcement experience working with the Las Cruces Police Department, the New Mexico State Police Motor Transportation Division, and the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Department. I was the elected Sheriff of Dona ana County from 2005-2014. During my career, I have worked just about every aspect of law enforcement, to include patrol, investigations, traffic, training and administration.
Personal
I am a lifelong resident of Dona Ana County, extending 6 generations. I have been married to Kim Garrison for 43 years, and together we have 6 children and 20 grandchildren, and co-own Garrison Family Farms.
Juvenile crime is still an issue in Dona Ana County. What will you do to address it?
I will address juvenile crime by working closer with the juvenile courts, juvenile probation and other juvenile resources. I also plan to work with state law makers to address juvenile issues. I will work with the school districts to put School Resource Officers back into the schools and bring back training such as DARE and GREAT to work on relationships between juvenile and law enforcement. Without accountability we will never make any positive changes.
If you are elected, what are your priorities for New Mexico?
My priorities for New Mexico and Dona Ana County are to provide the best, most professional law enforcement I can. I will do this by working with the Sheriff’s office and all it’s employees to focus on our internal and external goals. I will work to create the best relationship I can with all law enforcement in the state and bring trust back to the relationships with all those we are here to serve. This will be done by being more transparent with all. I will also work to reestablish the programs inside the Sheriff’s office that include the participation of the community.
What are your plans to ensure transparency and make sure you are accessible to constituents?
I plan to reestablish programs with the community, such as our Citizen’s Academy, and public meetings with all the different communities in Dona Ana County. It is important to realize each community is different and they have different needs; there is not one fix for all. I will have a social media manager to keep people aware of what is happening in the Sheriff’s office, with updates of goings-on. There are some things in law enforcement that cannot be shared to
protect people and ongoing cases, but as soon as it can be shared, it will be. Communication is and always has been one of our most important tools.
What makes you the best candidate?
I am the best candidate for Sheriff of Dona Ana County because I have over 31 years of law enforcement experience in this county, and I have 10 years of experience leading the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s office. I have lived here my entire life. I love and care for the people in this county, and will work hard to serve the public to the best of my ability. I will work hard as Sheriff to change the things I can by working with all law enforcement, state and federal law makers, the courts and other agencies throughout the county. As Sheriff, I will work to keep up with all the newest technology, but also rely on my experience of good old fashion police work.
