The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Oversight and Review Board (SORB) reviewed a first draft of its annual report, discussed follow-up items from a September meeting with Sheriff John Allen and unanimously approved a board letter congratulating the sheriff's office on a recent industry award.

The board's chair, Matthew Ray, opened the board's discussion of the draft annual report and said he would move forward with drafting correspondence as directed by the board. Chair Matthew Ray told members, "I will take the initiative to draft the letter," and said he would circulate the text consistent with open-meetings rules and legal review.

Board members spent most of the meeting on the annual report's substance and schedule. The annual-report committee presented a first draft and recommended a single meeting on Nov. 14 to discuss revisions with the aim of voting on a final draft at the board's December meeting (the board's regular meeting is scheduled for Dec. 12). Committee members said the report uses a different look and feel from prior years but retains the same substantive recommendations; the chair said the ordinance requires a final report by January if the board cannot complete it in December.

The board discussed several items that the sheriff's office had raised or that emerged during the board's September meeting with Sheriff Allen, under-sheriffs Williamson and Anderson and Major Burke. Those items included the new civilian compliance officer position, current and proposed uses of artificial intelligence and drone technology, the sheriff's public town halls and the sheriff's office policy for handling complaints and internal affairs investigations.

Sheriff Allen has said the newly hired civilian compliance officer is preparing a dashboard and conducting audits of past and present operations, and the board was told the position's formal job description is still being developed with human resources. Board members asked that the annual report note that the compliance officer is compiling audits and a dashboard to track matters such as compliance with body-worn camera rules, deputy attendance at court, and past investigations; the board requested that the sheriff be asked to provide a final job description and a briefing at a future meeting.

Board members also pressed the sheriff's practice for authorizing internal affairs probes. Members noted the office's current standard operating procedure gives the sheriff authority to decide whether to initiate internal investigations — including complaints that might involve the sheriff. Vice Chair Debbie Strongen and other committee members asked that the annual report reflect this structural fact and the concern it raises about independent investigatory channels; the board's policy-and-practices committee said the sheriff responded that he typically consults senior staff before authorizing investigations and also pointed to the department's CALEA accreditation.

On the board's authority and the board–sheriff relationship, board leaders reiterated that SORB is an advisory and review body under the county ordinance and does not exercise executive control over the sheriff's office. The sheriff told board leaders he views cooperation with the board as productive and indicated he may invite the board to attend or observe planned town-hall events and offer demonstrations of technologies such as drones and related safeguards at the regional Public Safety Academy in 2026.

The board also approved two formal items. First, the consent agenda minutes for the Aug. 8, 2025 meeting were approved without objection. Second, the board voted to draft and send a congratulatory letter to Sheriff Allen recognizing the sheriff's office and deputies for their use of technology in an incident that earned industry recognition from Axon; the board discussed how to word the letter so it recognizes personnel while avoiding promotional language for a private vendor. The board voted by roll call on the congratulatory letter; members recorded as voting yes were Chair Matthew Ray, William Walker, Natalie Mason, James Stewart, Diane Layden and Debbie Strongen. The board chair said he would draft the letter and run it by legal counsel before sending it to the sheriff with a request that copies be placed in deputies' personnel files as appropriate.

Committee updates included planned meetings of the administrative/budget committee and a community-engagement committee proposal to hold public Q&A sessions in neighborhoods. Communications staff reported continued outreach efforts including a three-minute recorded segment and a posted welcome video; an opinion piece submitted to the Albuquerque Journal had not yet been published.

Two board members announced forthcoming resignations. Vice Chair Debbie Strongen said she will resign effective March 1 (she offered to remain until a replacement is appointed). Member Michael Wissmer announced his planned resignation, expected to be effective in December; the chair said the county commissions' offices have been notified and that the board could face quorum pressures if replacements are not appointed.

The board set a focused Nov. 14 meeting at 1 p.m. to review the next draft of the annual report and expects to vote on the report at its Dec. 12 meeting; a voluntary holiday lunch for board members is planned for Dec. 18. The board chair asked members to send committee input in writing in advance of the Nov. 14 meeting to allow substantive consideration.

Votes at a glance
- Approval of meeting minutes (Aug. 8, 2025): approved unanimously (consent agenda).
- Motion to draft and send a congratulatory letter to Sheriff Allen regarding the department's award from Axon: passed by roll call (Recorded yes votes: Matthew Ray, William Walker, Natalie Mason, James Stewart, Diane Layden, Debbie Strongen).