A cup of joe with a cop?
The Southern Ute Police Department wants folks to give it a try.
The department hosted its first “Coffee with a Cop” in the Willows Cafe at Sky Ute Casino Resort on Friday, Oct. 7. The goal was to give SUPD officers, wildlife officers and animal control staff a chance to meet with the public in a low-key way, and the event did just that, said Chief Raymond Coriz, Jr. The department will host get-togethers like this every three months or so at different locations, he added.
“We want to open the dialog with the community,” he said. He and his staff were pleased tribal elders, retired law enforcement, some Tribal Council members, and several other people from the community came by to say hi.
Coriz has been department chief for three years and has worked in law enforcement in other tribal and New Mexico communities for 20 years, starting in a correctional facility.
Coriz has two lieutenants, four sergeants, 12 officers and two investigators on his staff. SUPD also works with officers from the Ignacio Police, Bayfield Marshal’s Office and La Plata County Sheriff’s Department when needed. SUPD has as many as 22 employees when fully staffed, with 21 right now and an opening for a patrol officer.
During the breakfast, the department’s community resource officer, Don Folsom, was called out to talk with a student who was acting up at Ignacio Elementary School.
Having a resource officer who isn’t in uniform can be an asset when dealing with an upset kid, explained Ferlando Fonseca, who has been an officer at SUPD for six years. It usually involves a student who is having problems at home who doesn’t want to come to school that day. If a criminal act occurs, then Fonseca said he or other officers will get involved.
Another important component of the department is its victim services department. Lisa Manzanares is the program coordinator, and she works with JoAnn Gomez and Brandi Archuleta.
The department tries to help crime victims in a variety of ways, including helping domestic violence victims move to a safe house or stay with a relative.
“It’s a little of everything,” Manzanares said, ranging from assisting victims of child abuse to someone who was in a vehicle accident or suffered property damage. The staff is on call 24 hours a day to help, and that can also include attending court dates or helping file protective orders. Her staff also helps handle death notifications.
They will stay in touch with a crime vicitm until the case is closed, and often they stay in touch with folks after that, as well.
“That’s pretty cool,” she said, referring to getting a hug from the child of one of the people she recently helped.
It’s a tough job because she and her staff are usually dealing with people in crisis, Manzanares explained.
“I love my job,” she explained. “It’s not always rewarding, but when it is, it’s hugely rewarding.”
That can come from helping someone find a job, a better home, or knowing their kids are going to be in a better environment.
“That’s where the reward is,” she said. “It’s really worth it.”
