Malin Parker

1. Why do you want to be Sheriff?

I am the current elected Sheriff of Roosevelt County. For the eight years prior to being elected I was the appointed Chief Deputy Sheriff. During the last 12 years I have worked very hard to create a community oriented Sheriffs Office. By that I have a few rules I personally tell every Deputy Sheriff to follow the day he pins on his badge of office. They are, treat every crime as if it happened to you or someone in your family. Nobody likes it when someone shows up and takes a report when they have been victimized and have the Law Enforcement yawn or roll their eyes like they have something better to do. Investigate every possible route the crime may have taken. If it was important enough for someone to call us they deserve our full attention. The next is keep your victims informed of the status of their case. Take the time to explain the process so they know where you are at with the case and what is likely to happen next. Treat everyone you deal with, with respect! I tell the Deputies if things get ugly it will be because that person took it to that level not because we did. And last but not least, return every phone call you get. I believe the Sheriffs Office has excelled greatly from the past and has become a respected agency because of this. In short I want to get re-elected so I can see my vision through and try to carry that vision on to the next Sheriff.

2. Tell us what you think makes you qualified for the position?

I began my career in law enforcement in 1999 as a Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Reserve Deputy, and after finding my true passion in life, I accepted a position with the Elida Police Department. After a brief time as patrolman, I was promoted to Chief of Police for the small, rural Department. After approximately two years with the Elida Police Department I was hired as a full-time Deputy with the Roosevelt County Sheriff’s Office. I worked in patrol for the next couple of years for the Sheriff’s Office until I was assigned to the Region V Drug Task Force under the direction of former Curry County Sheriff Roger Hatcher. While working for the Region, I was assigned to work Narcotics in a five county area which includes, Roosevelt, Curry, De Baca, Guadalupe, and Quay Counties. While assigned to the Region I was commissioned as an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), and received awards from both the DEA and the U.S. Department of Justice for my accomplishments. I also served on the Major Crimes Unit formed under former District Attorney Matt Chandler and investigated numerous homicides. I received recognition for my duties there as well. I have worked with all branches of the Federal government and many local Law Enforcement entities. I received numerous awards and commendations during my time working in patrol, narcotics, and investigations and was nominated as Law Enforcement Officer of the year in 2006. During my time in Law Enforcement I have completed more than 1,900 hours of basic and advanced training in law enforcement and have obtained the highest level of Law Enforcement Certification from the NM Dept. of public Safety, in the Executive status. I left investigations in 2007 when I was appointed Chief Deputy Sheriff. I spent 8 years under former Sheriff Darren Hooker running the day to day activities of Law Enforcement overseeing investigations and patrol. I was elected Sheriff and took over the office in 2015. During this time I continued to Manage the Sheriffs Office, and was elected to serve on the Board of Directors for the NM Assc. Of Counties where I served two years. I am a NM certified general Law Enforcement Instructor, NM State firearms Instructor, and graduated from the Match Grade Sniper School in Albuquerque NM. For a total of 19 years experience.

3. What do you see as priorities for the sheriff’s department?

First and foremost the safety and welfare of Roosevelt County citizens. Narcotics enforcement and property crimes. These two things are commonly connected. Both are commonly also related to about 95% of all other crimes

4. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born in Clovis NM, but raised and lived in Roosevelt County for going on 46 years. I am married to my wonderful wife for 23 years. I have a daughter and Son-in law and one (so far) Beautiful grandbaby who has me completely wrapped around her finger. I am an avid hunter and love to fish and spend time with family and friends outdoors. I am a huge supporter of the bill of rights and not trying to re-write it. I believe very much that we need to bring God back in to our lives before our nation falls completely apart!

5. When is the election?

The primary election is on June 5th but I would encourage everyone to early vote as you never know when you might get tied up and miss out. Please vote.

 

 

Darrell Chenault

1. Why do you want to be Sheriff?

I have a deep and loving passion for law enforcement and fireman. The foundation that these two organizations have is being servants to their communities. Their pay is below average or just a volunteer and yet they put on bullet proof vests, carry a gun, wear protective gloves to keep from catching some of the most deadly viruses in the world, or bunker gear that takes them into burning homes. Wanting to help others when they are hurting, or protecting their community when people do bad things is what motivates me. I love Roosevelt County and its people and feel it would be an honor to get to serve this community.

2. Tell us what you think makes you qualified for the position?

Being a resident of Roosevelt County for approximately 51 of my 56 years has given me deep roots within this community. Country people and a country life style is what I love and wish to protect. Over these years maturity has brought me wisdom, and with wisdom I hope to give back to Roosevelt County.
I started out as a volunteer fireman on the Elida Fire Department. One of the first fires I ever went on was when the huge fire in Portales burned the potato warehouse, the theater, and other buildings in 1978. I was 16 years old when my daddy (Wayne) took me out of school to go fight the fire. I was on top of the roof of a building next to the old print shop spraying water on this huge blaze. After the fire was out my daddy impressed upon me that this is what communities do. They come together as a team to help neighbors when things go bad. I hope this love for my community and Roosevelt County is my greatest qualification.
As to my professional career in law enforcement, I became a New Mexico State Police Officer in 1984. My first duty station was in Farmington. After two years, I transferred to Lovington where I was there for three years. I then transferred to Elida where I worked in Roosevelt County for five years. I loved my work here as a policeman, but the farming lifestyle was strong and I took over my daddy’s farming operation. During this time of farming I had the opportunity to attend Eastern New Mexico University were I received my Bachelors’ Degree in Education. This allowed me to start a teaching and coaching career in Elida, in which I still do today. During this time I also became the part-time Municipal Judge in Elida for four years. In 2016 I got back into law enforcement for one year while working full-time in the summer and part-time during the school year as a policeman for the town of Elida. Lastly, I have been a volunteer fireman for approximately 40 years and an EMT for 30 years on both the Lovington Fire Department and the Elida Fire Department.

3. What do you see as priorities for the sheriff’s department?

First, to be a community minded Sheriff. We as citizens of Roosevelt County have to become more aware and vigilant in helping and looking out for each other. Neighbors helping neighbors. We need community meetings locally to talk about crime prevention. There we can discuss problem areas or concerns that people might have. These meetings can be monthly or yearly dependent on the individual needs of each community.
Second, would be a greater presence in our local schools of Dora, Floyd, and Elida. From working the traffic in school zones to spending time in the hallways. I will contact the school superintendents and get information from them as to when our presence would be most visual and beneficial. We cannot just pretend that a school shooting will not happen to us. I do understand that deputies or I will not always be available, but when we are, I hope to be seen in the hallways of our schools.
Third, we must continue to battle, battle, battle our drug problem. Drug problems lead to so much more. Larceny crimes go up effecting the honest folks of Roosevelt County.
Fourth, I will ask for raises for my deputies. As a whole, law enforcement is drastically under paid. Our United States over the last five years has given police officers a black eye. I found this out personally in my time as an Elida Police Officer. Unfortunately in today’s world police officers are not as respected as they once were. Racism was mentioned many times when I stopped people on traffic stops. I generally had no idea of whom I was stopping because of the abundance of tinted windows until they rolled the window down and yet I was already labeled as a “bad cop”. Media coverage has hurt the law enforcement profession. Many times they choose to show a one minute bleep of a 20 minute stop; not fair. Do we have a few bad police officers in our world, absolutely, but overall they are a band of brothers and sisters wanting to do good for their communities. I will hold myself and my deputies to a high degree of honesty, integrity, and professionalism. I will have the deputies back when people falsely accuse them of wrong doing, however I will hold all of the department accountable as well for any wrong doing on our part.
Personally I want to be reminded daily of who I am serving. First my Lord and Savior Jesus, who inspired Apostle Paul to write in 1 Corinthians 10:24 that “No one should seek his own good, but the good of the other person”. I will strive to be fair and honest to all Roosevelt county residents and hopefully give back to them some of this amazing life that Roosevelt County has given to me.

4. Tell us a little about yourself.

My parents were raised in the Milnesand area. They graduated from Dora high school. They moved to Elida in the 1950’s and started their family. I came along in 1961 as one of five children. I went to the Elida public schools until graduating in 1980. During my teen years I worked for Gene Creighton, Harding and Greg Burris, Jerry Morris, Herschel Dixon, and my daddy Wayne Chenault who taught me how to work hard, be a neighbor, and overall do things in an honest and up right way. In 1982 I moved to Hobbs to take an oilfield job. I later worked as an assistant service manager in the Permian Ford dealership in Hobbs. I moved back to Elida in 1983 where I was accepted into the New Mexico State Police in 1984. Question number 2 has filled you in from that time until now.
I have 5 awesome children who have now given me 3 amazing grandbabies, with another on the way. My wife Venetia is my best friend and I love her greatly. Life is good.

5. When is the election?

The primary election is on Tuesday June 5th.
I would greatly and humbly appreciate your vote.