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Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners Appoints Robert A. Garcia as Sheriff

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Santa Fe – November 24, 2010 – The Santa Fe Board of County Commissioners today appointed Robert A. Garcia as Santa Fe County Sheriff through December 31, 2010. Garcia, who was elected Sheriff in November, is scheduled to take office on January 1, 2011. He previously served as undersheriff and will fill out the remainder of the term due to the resignation of former Sheriff Greg L. Solano.

Katherine Miller, Santa Fe County Manager, explained, “We were notified this morning by Mr. Solano that he was resigning his office effective immediately due to illegal activities involving supplies from the Sheriff’s Office. It is with great regret that we move immediately to recommend the Board accept his resignation, which is contingent on appointment of a successor.”

In recommending Garcia as Sheriff, Miller said she had checked with investigators at the State Police Department and with the New Mexico Attorney General’s office, and was assured that Garcia was not in any way involved with or aware of the illegal actions to which Solano has admitted.

Miller has already sent a formal letter to the State Auditor’s office reporting potential violations of criminal statues and has requested to hire a State Auditor approved accounting firm to conduct an immediate forensic audit of the Sheriff’s Department and overall internal control review. Santa Fe County has received verbal approval to move forward with this request.

Commissioners who attended the meeting, including Chair Harry Montoya, Virginia Vigil, Kathy Holian, Mike Anaya and Liz Stefanics (who attended by phone) expressed regret over the situation and accepted Solano’s resignation with “a heavy heart.” Commissioner Anaya thanked Solano for his eight years of service to the County. Commissioner Montoya expressed the hope he and his family would be able to recover from the current circumstances.

“Santa Fe County staff will assist the Sheriff’s office and Board of Commissioners in ensuring a smooth transition, and in restoring full faith in the Sheriff’s Office and its personnel among County residents. We thank Sheriff Garcia for being willing to step in so quickly and are confident that, under his leadership, the Sheriff’s Office will go forward and all staff will continue to work hard on behalf of County residents,” Miller said.

Garcia, who is out of state for the Thanksgiving Holiday, was sworn in by phone by Santa Fe County Clerk Valerie Espinoza. He will be sworn in again upon his return to Santa Fe on Tuesday, November 30.

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Contact:
Jennifer Jaramillo
505.986.6293
jjaramillo@santafecounty.org