Q&A - Portales Police Chief Doug Jones

Portales Police Chief Doug Jones has been on the job a week now. He recently sat down the PNT and offered insight about himself and what he's learned about Portales and its police department.

Doug Jones

Portales Police Chief

What is something surprising you learned on the first week on the job?

I was surprised to see how enthusiastic the men and women of the Portales Police Department are, particularly regarding their respective positions. This is not to say that I had heard they were not. That is not the case. I was extremely pleased to notice that attribute. Those that I have spoken with have been eager to discuss their roles in the mission of this department and to make suggestions to me regarding improvements. That is what I like and that is what I want to hear.

What are your plans for working with other area law enforcement departments?

I have always been an advocate of close cooperation between law enforcement agencies. All agencies are in the business of enforcing the laws and should work together. I have already met with (Roosevelt County) Sheriff (Darren) Hooker and Chief Deputy Malin Parker; Chief (Brad) Mauldin of the ENMU Police; members of the judiciary and District Attorney Matt Chandler, as well as members of his staff from the local D.A.'s Office. I have tentative plans to meet with Chief (Steve) Sanders of Clovis, Sheriff (Matt) Murray of Curry County, and Capt. Jimmy Glasscock of the New Mexico State Police, along with members of the FBI from the Albuquerque and Roswell offices. I have spoken via telephone with Special Agent in Charge Lee of the FBI in Albuquerque. Under my administration, the Portales Police Department will be a law enforcement agency that will work in a cooperation with all other law enforcement and civilian departments.

What is the department's biggest challenge as far as types of crime?

Having just arrived here recently and having been briefed on current problems, I believe the most troubling problem Portales is experiencing is burglaries to automobiles. According to the information given to me by my chief of detectives, almost 33 percent of all burglaries to automobiles, to date in 2012, have occurred since Oct. 1. I urge the citizens to not leave valuables in their vehicles. If there is nothing to steal inside in the vehicles, then the thieves will not be tempted to break-in.

What is something you would like to bring to the Portales PD that you found successful in other stops?

With my background, I bring a wide variety of investigative, training and administrative experience to the Portales PD. I have worked the most simple case to major cases, such as the Jim Jones, Jonestown, Guyana case...a major Puerto Rican terrorist case; and major crimes on...reservations, such as murder, rape and kidnapping. I have supervised a major undercover drug investigation that resulted in the arrest of a drug kingpin, his associates and seizure of his bar and restaurant. Furthermore, I can bring a vast amount of law enforcement training experience to the PPD. I taught police training courses for 22-plus years and of course my last law enforcement position was territorial director of training for the U.S. Virgin Islands Police Department. That agency has 550-plus sworn officers and over 200 support personnel.

What is your favorite police show now on TV? Of all time?

In my early days, with the bureau, I enjoyed The FBI, which was produced by Quinn Martin and starred Efrem Zembalist as FBI Inspector Erskine. It was fairly accurate. I have always enjoyed the Andy Griffith Show, which starred Andy Griffith as Sheriff Taylor and Don Knotts as Deputy Fife. And by the way, my hometown of Winston-Salem, N.C., is just a few miles south of Mt. Airy, N.C., Andy Griffith's hometown. And we both graduated from the University of North Carolina. That show put some humor into small town law enforcement. And believe me, I have a sense of humor, which is needed in this line of work.

— Compiled by PNT staff writer Alisa Boswell.