Roswell Daily Record Vol. 124, No. 67 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
March 19, 2015
www.rdrnews.com
THURSDAY
Chaves County’s top cops talk priorities By Jeff Tucker Record Staff Writer Roswell Police Chief Phil Smith and Chaves County Sheriff Britt Snyder told the Chaves County Republican Women Wednesday they are in the midst of public relations campaigns to build stronger relationships with the community. Smith and Snyder, the county’s two top cops, were the guest speakers at Wednesday’s monthly luncheon at the Roswell Elks Lodge. Smith said he has implemented a new priority policing model based on criminal activity and crime reports.
“We look at certain areas to put our resources in to better utilize officers,” Smith said. “We’ve seen a major drop in property crime, around 43 percent. It seems to be working. We’ll start with the property crimes. Maybe that will minimize the violent crime.” Smith said he is expanding the Roswell Police Department’s school resource officer program. Smith said there are currently three police officers assigned to Roswell schools, with one sergeant. Smith said one more officer would be assigned to Roswell schools by the start of the school year in the fall.
“Then we’ll have an officer at each junior high and an officer at the two main high schools, plus a sergeant,” the chief said. “And they’ll be responsible for all the schools. Hopefully, we can get to these kids before they start having another thought process that we don’t want to have in our community. We’re going to try and be there as a role model. We’re going to try and be there as a liaison. We’re going to be there as another resource for the kids in our community. I want to cut that arrest rate down at the high schools and I want to cut that arrest rate after they get
out of high school. I’m very proud of that program.” Smith said he has issued orders to every Roswell police officer to interact with citizens and answer questions, once scenes have been secured. “I’ve initiated what a call a PR initiative. Every interaction law enforcement has with the public is an opportunity for public relations,” Smith said. “Once safety is obtained, the officer is mandated to stop and speak with anybody who is standing by watching, victims, anybody they contact. See COPS, Page A3
Jeff Tucker Photo
Chaves County Sheriff Britt Snyder speaks about his first months in office at Wednesday’s monthly luncheon of the Chaves County Republican Women. Roswell Police Department Chief Phil Smith also spoke at the luncheon about changes in his department.
NMMI spokeswoman says campus is safe Staff Report A spokeswoman for New Mexico Military Institute provided the Daily Record with the following statement regarding campus security and the capture of former NMMI Cadet Chance Butler. “NMMI has no comment on the current criminal or civil matters regarding any former cadet,” Lt. Col. Colleen Cole-Velasquez, NMMI’s director of marketing and communications, said in a statement late Tuesday. “NMMI is a safe and secure facility, monitored 24/7 by police and staff who are highly trained to handle all situations that may arise.” Butler, 16, of Pampa, Max Scally Photos
Sisters Sydney, left, and London Drakulick get in some last-minute snuggles with two 4-week-old Chiweenie puppies from the Roswell pound.
The doggone friendly skies S
ome people say “God is my copilot.” But if you spell “God” backward you get “dog,” a second-best choice for a copilot. On Wednesday, small airplane pilot Peter Rork had a 2-year-old pooch named Whitney as his copilot as he flew Whitney and about 25 other dogs to new homes in Denver and Salt Lake City. The plane took off from the Roswell International Air Center around 7:30 a.m. to transport animals that had been housed at the Roswell Animal Shelter. The first-ever flight was filmed by TV crews from Albuquerque and Colorado. Two rescue groups, From Forgotten to Forever Rescue and Transport and Dog Is My Copilot, teamed up to fly the animals out-of-
Texas, pleaded no contest Feb. 2 to a charge of aggravated assault-disguised in Fifth Judicial District Court in Roswell. He was allowed to serve up to a year of juvenile probation in Texas. However, his mother said he ran away from home on Feb. 14. Authorities said Butler violated several conditions of his probation, including failure to attend school. Butler was arrested on a warrant and extradited to Chaves County March 11 to face a possible revocation of his probation. He is being held without bond at the Chaves County Juvenile Detention Center. His next scheduled court hearing is April 6.
Sheriff’s deputy resigns after arrest by police
By Timothy P. Howsare Record Editor
A Chaves County Sheriff’s deputy who was arrested in Roswell last week on charges of bribery or intimidation of a witness and assault resigned Wednesday morning, Sheriff Britt Snyder confirmed. Allan Covarrubias, 32, who worked as a Roswell police officer until January, said Wednesday he was forced to resign from the Chaves County Sheriff’s Office or get fired. Covarrubias also believes he is being treated unfairly by the Roswell Police Department. Covarrubias was arrested by the RPD around noon
state for adoption. They are set to fly out another group of animals on June 8. Currently, 25 to 30 dogs and cats are driven weekly to Colorado in a cargo van. The groups are always looking for volunteers and donations of crates, collars and cash. For more information, call Carolyn Drakulich at 602-2141093.
Covarrubias March 11 after he voluntarily turned himself in. Following his arrest, Covarrubias was booked into the Chaves County Detention Center. He is out of jail on a $5,000 surety bond. According to a criminal complaint, on Feb. 24 at See ARREST, Page A3
Sign of the times, perhaps: City considers entry signs
Top right: Whitney calls dibs on the copilot seat. Bottom right: Maria Sosa says goodbye to Clarissa, the dog she had been fostering. Below: Peter Rork, president of Dog Is My Copilot, with some of the rescue volunteers and animals from Roswell.
By Jeff Jackson Record City Editor
“Sign, sign, everywhere a sign,” motorists could be humming some day as they enter Roswell from any of five points. The city of Roswell is evaluating an idea of upgrading three current entryway signs located on the outskirts of town and adding two others that would welcome travelers flying in and those driving from Texas and elsewhere. A selection of signs varying in size and content has been reviewed by city officials, and an advertising firm in Albuquerque has been paid almost $20,000 through a budget amend-
Today’s Forecast
Today’s Obituaries Page A6
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• Dan Schilling • Daria Prieto Perez • Connie Lynn Creswell
ment for the designs and to target preliminary locations, one city staffer said. “The designs we have now aren’t final. It kind of depends on budget to a certain extent,” said Elizabeth Stark-Rankins, who works for the city of Roswell as support services administrator. “We’re just trying to work out the details. Not everyone is in love with every sign.” EFG Creative & Marketing also was contracted by the city of Albuquerque to design five Route 66-themed billboards that are intended for placement along Central Avenue in the Duke City. See SIGNS, Page A2
Index Classifieds...........B5 Comics..................B4 Entertainment. ....A8 Financial..............B3
General...............A2 Horoscopes.........A8 Lotteries. ............A2 Opinion.................A4
Sports. ................B1 Weather...............A8 World..................A6