Last year, 389 people were denied a gun in Bernalillo County. Then they got a friendly visit from the sheriff.

For most gun buyers in Bernalillo County, a background check is a routine step. But for 389 people last year, that check ended in a denial and a visit from the sheriff’s office.

Instead of a raid, these individuals often received a “knock and talk” from the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Behavioral Health Unit (BHU). These visits aim to inform rather than punish. Deputies ensure people understand why their purchase was rejected and offer help if needed.

“It’s more of an informative, educational encounter,” said Sgt. Patrick Delp, who oversees the unit. “The system worked. You’re not allowed to purchase the firearm.”

Tracking red flags

People are typically denied for three reasons: a court order, an active criminal warrant or a court finding that they cannot manage their own affairs due to mental illness, Delp said.

​When gun purchase is denied, the FBI’s National Instant Criminal Background Check System (NICS) sends the notification to local law enforcement. Under a 2022 federal law, the FBI must notify local law enforcement of a failed check within 24 hours, but not every agency takes action. 

The sheriff’s office voluntarily tracks these federal denials. While the denial stops the transaction, follow-up visits ensure the “no” is followed by a conversation rather than a confrontation.

With nearly 400 denials last year, the unit prioritizes cases based on risk. Detectives look for red flags, such as individuals repeatedly attempting to bypass the system.

“We’ve never had an instance where the individual continues to attempt to purchase firearms [after a visit],” Delp said.

Crisis response and results

The unit maintains close coordination with the Albuquerque Police Department’s Crisis Intervention Unit to track these high-risk cases. In a recent case, the unit flagged someone who tried to buy a gun at two or three locations in one day and alerted APD.

“Now that is a concern to the community and to law enforcement,” Delp said.

Sheriff John Allen took office in 2023 and has grown the unit into a specialized operation. Today, it operates three mobile crisis teams, which pair a detective with a mental health clinician and a Bernalillo County Fire and Rescue paramedic. 

Firearm safety results

​The unit also includes a specialized home visit team for higher-risk follow-ups involving threats of violence or self-harm. BCSO told City Desk that if the team identifies a high risk, detectives may ask family members to file a red flag petition.

In 2025, the unit completed 15 Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Orders, a 75% increase over the previous year, according to the sheriff’s office. The district court approved every petition. The team also documented 24 firearm safekeeping cases where families voluntarily turned over weapons.

Delp credited the unit’s three forensic case managers as the backbone of the operation. They connect people to services ranging from food assistance to transportation to medical appointments.

“Our [Behavioral Health Unit] is doing the work that too often falls through the cracks,” Allen told City Desk in response to questions. “They show up when someone is in crisis, help families and find solutions that make our community safer.”

The office is working to expand the unit in 2026, adding two forensic case managers, a licensed clinician and a detective, according to Delp. “The goal is to connect individuals with services and reduce nonemergency 911 calls,” he said. 

All team members have crisis intervention training, and some have experience as hostage negotiators or in mental health, Delp said.

New Mexico had 530 firearm deaths in 2023, the most recent year with finalized data, an age-adjusted rate of 25.3 per 100,000 residents, the fifth highest in the U.S., according to the New Mexico Department of Health. Preliminary estimates put 2024 deaths at 563, according to provisional CDC data.