TO THE EDITOR:
A lot has happened over the last two-and-a-half years since I took office as Sheriff. There have been some significant changes at the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office.
One of those changes which I consider one of my greatest accomplishments is the way we do business in the Detectives Division.
As of this year, 88 percent of all felony cases are now being assigned to a detective. That is well over a 200-percent increase in the number of cases that are being looked into by my detectives.
An unintended consequence of this change is that we have also seen an improved relationship between the divisions within the Sheriff’s Office. An observation I made when I looked at the numbers: as we are increasing the number of cases being investigated by detectives, there is a decrease in the number of felony cases being reported.
That is just one example of the changes we have seen in the Sheriff’s Office since 2013. In 2012 I did something else a little bit differently. I had not selected my undersheriff until after the election. In November 2012 I launched a nationwide search for my undersheriff. I received resumes from all over the country, from current and former sheriffs, from current and former police chiefs, I even received one from a man with a PhD. Ultimately, the man I selected was a man from Portales. Many of you have gotten to know Chief Deputy Mark Cage over the past two-anda- half years. As my undersheriff, Mark Cage has proven to be invaluable not only in the daily operations of the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office, but in implementing the changes and the vision I have for the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office. Though our personalities are completely different, it does not take long to see that our vision and goals for the Eddy County Sheriff’s Office are the same.
As we find ourselves in the spring of the political campaign season, I feel it is time to formally announce what many of you have already heard. Due to a variety of personal reasons it is my intention to be a one-term Sheriff. I will not be seeking re-election.
Being your Sheriff has, without a doubt, been the best job I have ever had. It has been a joy and an honor serving as your Sheriff. My time as Sheriff is not over. I still have a job to do and goals I would like to achieve for this agency. But as a political position it is time to begin the campaign. Therefore, it is with great pride and absolute confidence that I announce my support and endorsement for Mark Cage as your next Eddy County Sheriff.
Sincerely, Scott M. London Sheriff, Eddy County
