By Alvan Romero

I write this to express my support for Monica Salazar as the next Rio Arriba County Sheriff. Monica will bring a “new vision” to the department. She has the training needed, which she will lead with, having developed an arsenal of special skills over her career. Monica has much field experience and has served in leadership positions in her career. She knows her first order of business will be to keep 100% of Rio Arriba residents safe.

Monica’s 19-year law enforcement background is impressive, having served 15 years as a patrol officer, with 10 of those years as a Sergeant. She served three years as the Rio Arriba Undersheriff. Monica earned a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice, and a minor in Accounting, from the University of Nevada-Reno, and a master’s degree in Criminal Justice from Boston University.

I met Monica in 2006, when I was serving as the founding Director of Tax Fraud Investigations Division (TFID), NM Taxation and Revenue Department, a position I held for over 13 years. Monica interviewed with TFID for a Special Agent position. Monica was quite impressive during her interview exhibiting poise, confidence, knowledge, expressing she wanted to contribute to “something new”. She stood out and was offered a position soon thereafter.

While working at TFID Monica received intensive on-the-job training in financial Investigations from expert instructors who had taught hundreds of law enforcement officers including at the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Georgia. She learned how to trace the movement of money.

She was taught “How to Follow the Money, How to Follow the Paper Trail.” She learned what “elements of the crime” had to be proven in embezzlement, kickback, bribery and money laundering cases. Monica learned how to interview subjects of investigations and critical witnesses proficiently. She learned what “probable cause” entailed in regard to obtaining a financial search warrant.

She learned that a good criminal financial investigator has many specialized investigative tools at his/her disposal, such as undercover operations, link analysis, and the value a computer forensic examiner brings to financial investigations, and how and when to use such specialized investigative techniques.

During her time with TFID Monica learned to do investigative research, work independently and work in a team atmosphere, as well. She learned the rules of evidence, and what different sources of information exist that would assist her. Importantly, she learned how to articulate her investigative findings and recommendations, whether it was in the writing of an investigative report or in presenting a case orally before a grand jury.

When she came to me to let me know, in person, that she believed her path and passion was to work as a patrol officer, there were no hard feelings. She thanked me for the support she received from TFID, and for the special training she had received in financial investigations.

Rio Arriba County residents will be well served by the 1st Female head of Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Office. Safety First! Fighting drugs is most important too!! And educating the residents how to further protect themselves from property crimes will be at the top of her mission. She will employ various new and some steadfast strategies to accomplish the above.

With her years of varied experience, I absolutely know Monica knows what to do in cases where funds are being embezzled, where ghost vendors are being paid from private accounts or public taxpayer dollars, and where assets are being pilfered from public coffers. Society has to know that asset misappropriation is a crime.

Stealing from a private for-profit business, a non-profit, or from local government entities hurts individuals and organizations. When monies are illegally taken from local government entities such as municipalities, school systems or counties, monies meant to provide services, such as law enforcement protection, are depleted. County residents lose!

Monica and her team following the money, proving those crimes, and seizing ill-gotten monies and assets to return to private citizens, or to local governments, as the case may be, and holding law breakers accountable, will make you very satisfied that you voted for her.

Monica told me many years ago that she wanted to patrol her community and make the community safe. She has lived her wish. Now, she wants a bigger role. She wants to lead an organization where she can do that for the entire county of Rio Arriba.

Monica has prepared herself well for the position she now seeks. Monica doesn’t want anything given to her. She wants to “earn your trust, and earn your vote”. That’s why she’s out every day knocking on doors, shaking hands, meeting people and informing all of you what her plans are. Only you can make it happen. I believe Monica will prove to you that she is the right choice. Get out and vote, and make a difference.

Monica will not be afraid to make the right decisions, as there will be many. She knows she can build a new team to protect the county’s citizens, the elderly, the youth, properties, and taxpayer dollars. Monica has the EXPERIENCE, INTEGRITY and FORTITUDE TO DO THE JOB REQUIRED!

Alvan Romero, is a CPA CFE, former IRS-Criminal Investigation Division special agent and former NM TRD-Tax Fraud Investigations Division founding director.