Opinion: Former Sheriff Phil Snekeker makes his pitch for BernCo sheriff in Dem. primary

My name is Philip A. Snedeker.  I am a candidate for the office of Bernalillo County Sheriff. I will be seeking the Democratic nomination for the office, in the Primary Election, in June of 2026. I grew up in Southern New Mexico, in the Town of Silver City.  I attended local rarea schools. I earned a BA Degree, in Social Science, and an MA Degree, in Educational Administration, from Western New Mexico University, Silver City, NM, and am a formally trained educator and administrator. 

I would bring an extensive 47 year career, in Law Enforcement and Criminal Justice, to the Sheriff’s Department. I began my career in Law Enforcement, as a police officer, with the Silver City Police Department, while attending college. I subsequently served, for a ten (10) year period, as a New Mexico State Police Officer, in the communities of Santa Fe, Farmington, and Tucumcari, NM.  I was subsequently elected as a Democrat, as the Sheriff of Quay County, serving the communities of Tucumcari, San Jon, and Logan, in eastern New Mexico. I additionally oversaw the operations of the county detention center. 

I subsequently served, for a 31 year period, as a Certified Peace Officer, Probation and Parole Officer, and, Administrator, for the Albuquerque Regional Office, of the State Probation and Parole Division, serving for an 18 year period as the Regional Administrator of the District Court Services Office, in Albuquerque, NM. 

As a lifelong, dedicated public servant, with a strong commitment to serving the people of my community, I bring a career in public safety and law enforcement, administration, and policy development, and a personal dedication to this community and its constituents. I have the experience and knowledge necessary to best represent the interests of, and concerns of our citizens.  I will be focused on implementing comprehensive crime and violence reduction measures, and the strengthening and support of our Criminal Justice system.  I will support changes and modifications to Pre-Trial Detention statutes, ensuring violent, repeat, predatory criminals are held in custody, ensuring the safety of our communities and citizens.  I will commit to research-based, focused-deterrence policing strategies, ensuring the safety and well-being of our citizens, and the prevention ,suppression and curtailment of crime.  I will support and advocate for expansion and funding of programs dedicated to Alcohol, Substance Abuse, Mental Health treatment, and the addressing humanely, and responsibly, homelessness. I will commit to efforts and collaborative undertakings in support of such.

I will work cooperatively and collaboratively with all area Criminal Justice agencies, the Courts, Corrections, and our Citizens. 

I will provide for the safety of our schools,our teachers and our students, and will establish continuous, cooperative, and sound efforts at such levels, to ensure such outcomes.

I will immediately, and via direct  Administrative oversight,  undertake the requisite actions to address the disturbing and persistent pattern of Criminal misconduct by some Departmental personnel.

My commitment to Public Safety and the citizens of Bernalillo County is unmatched, and I am professionally prepared to take on the responsibility of serving as Sheriff.

I am committed to improving the lives of our citizens,and moving the Sheriff’s Department, to greatness.

I am committed to extraordinary ideas and principles, and as such, we are going to see extraordinary results.