Santa Fe County sheriff looks back on ‘Rust’ case, discusses DEA controversy and future of AI use

A local who was elected Santa Fe County sheriff in 2018, Adan Mendoza’s eventful two-term tenure has included efforts to improve staffing, managing the department through the COVID-19 pandemic and multiple stints under the national media microscope. Mendoza’s time in office will concluded at the end of the year when he will likely be succeeded by current Santa Fe police Chief Paul Joye, who won the Democratic primary in June and faces no Republican challenger in the November general election. In the latest episode of the “Around the Roundhouse” podcast, Mendoza joins *Santa Fe New Mexican* state politics reporter Daniel J. Chacón to reflect on his time in office, discuss his department’s involvement in the *Rust* case, offer his thoughts on his likely successor and share his plans for the future. Mendoza, who has worked in law enforcement for 27 years, begins by discussing efforts to modernize the department’s policies. He also talks about the use of artificial intelligence in law enforcement. Asked how the department has been able to improve its staffing levels and retention, Mendoza points to implementing a “4/8/40” work schedule that gives employees full-time pay for working four eight-hour days each week, allowing for an extra eight hours of administrative leave to devote to their mental or physical well-being. Mendoza then shares his support for Joye, who he endorsed in the primary race for county sheriff, and discusses his own future. He said he’s interested in the role of Santa Fe’s police chief and will be applying for the position. Chacón later asks Mendoza to offer his thoughts on the recent story that the federal Drug Enforcement Administration knowingly allowed New Mexico to be flooded with fentanyl. Mendoza is then asked about his time in the national spotlight as his department worked the case for the on-set shooting of *Rust* cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and the discovery of the bodies of actor Gene Hackman and his wife, Betsy Arakawa, at their Santa Fe home. Chacón brings up a judge’s dismissal of the involuntary manslaughter case of Alec Baldwin, largely over a box of ammunition that was entered into evidence under a different case number than all other evidence related to the shooting of Hutchins. Mendoza said he bears responsibility for the handling of the evidence since it took place under his department. Mendoza is finally asked what he will miss the most and least when he moves on from his sheriff’s role, and shares thanks to the community for the chance to serve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.