Possible Sunland Park disincorporation raises security concerns

On Friday, ABC-7 confirmed more than a dozen people filed a petition to disincorporate the city of Sunland Park.

If that happens, Sunland Park would be under full supervision of Doa Ana County. But petitioners will first need to collect signatures from 25 percent of registered voters there and present the petition to county commissioners.

Sunland Park formed its city government in 1983. Monday, Doa Ana County Chairman Billy Garrett said people should respect that decision made more than 30 years ago.

“No matter what the county tries to do we can never be as close to the people as a local government can be,” Garrett said.

With a petition in the works to disincorporate Sunland Park, Garrett says he will continue to support the residents and their government.

“They would no longer have a police force and as it is I’m really stretched out thin,” Dona Aa County Sheriff Kiki Vigil said.

Vigil told ABC-7 that relying on the county to patrol the area could have a negative impact. If Sunland Park did disincorporate, he said, all city services including police and fire would be dissolved and instead only fall under the control of Doa Ana County. Some think that would be an improvement.

“When you look up and down the valley the reality is everyone would be happier to be back in Doa Ana County,” said Kraig Carpenter, a supporter of the petition.

“I believe that crime would go up drug activity would go up down there,” Vigil said.

“Until the people have made a decision that that’s the way they want to go then I think it’s very important that we support Sunland park the very best ways that we can,” Garrett said.

A meeting is scheduled Wednesday night to talk about the vision of Sunland Park. The public is welcome to attend at 7 p.m. at San Martin de Porres church.