THE NEW SHERIFF IN TOWN IS ONE OF OURS AFTER A SHORT RETIREMENT FROM

THE BCSO, SHERIFF JOHN ALLEN IS BACK TO SHAKE EVERYTHING UP

Not two months into his tenure and Sheriff John Allen, new head of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, excitedly declares, “We are rolling. We’re everywhere. I told people, I hope you can keep up. There’s too much to do and everything going on.”

Allen knows what’s at stake: he’s the first Black sheriff ever; there are recruitment diversity issues; there’s community mistrust; and he’s just been invited to the Roundhouse to speak on use of force tactics in the wake of Tyre Nichols’ killing by Memphis police. Everyone’s got their eyes on what Allen’s gonna do next, but he thrives under the pressure and scrutiny.

He rearranged how the BCSO works, despite the discomfort it caused; everyone knows he’s a unique lawman. He lives with his beloved wife Athenea in the South Valley surrounded by people he arrested but who respect him because he always talked with them.

That from-left-field thinking brought Allen to the Roundhouse in the first place. “I’m an elected official and we need to have communication.” Besides, he’s a master use of force instructor with case law and behavioral health training.

What he does, he calls engaged community policing. “How we interact with our community is so important to me. People are like, you’re done campaigning, but I’m like, then you’ll see me out in the community even more.”