Estancia Trustees Tackle Sheriff's Complaint Against Police Chief And An Upcoming Audit

ESTANCIA — The Estancia Board of Trustees covered a packed agenda Monday night, March 16, 2026, headlined by a lengthy public airing of a dispute between Estancia Police Chief Thomas Carter and Torrance County Sheriff David Frazee over a cross-commission agreement between Estancia and Mountainair police departments.

The board also introduced incoming Town Clerk Veronica Navarrette, heard significant news regarding the town's audit, approved a facility-use agreement with Estancia Valley Little League, authorized hiring a pool manager, and heard an update on the town's long-running effort to exit a FEMA flood zone designation.

Sheriff's Complaint Draws Public Support for Police Chief

The most substantial portion of the meeting centered on a three-page memo sent by Sheriff Frazee to the town, alleging misconduct by Chief Carter and the Estancia Police Department. At the heart of the complaint is a memorandum of understanding (MOU) between Estancia and Mountainair that allows the two departments to assist each other with law enforcement operations, particularly felony warrant service. Underlying the complaint is the fact that Chief Carter is challenging Sheriff Frazee in the upcoming election for Torrance County Sheriff.

Frazee has argued the MOU is invalid because, he alleged, it was not approved by the governor's office, citing a 2024 state statute requiring such approval. Frazee's memo also threatened to criminally charge Carter and his officers with impersonating police officers.

Several members of the public spoke in Carter's defense during the public comment period before the chief himself addressed the board.

Keith Ukel, a resident of the Estancia Valley, told trustees he believes the sheriff has a personal vendetta against Carter. Former Estancia Mayor Nathan Dial echoed the sentiment, noting that none of the concerns Frazee raised in his memo were brought to his attention during Dial's time as mayor.

Clayton Gardner spoke in support of what he described as Carter's character and professionalism. Mountainair Police Chief Paul Lucero also addressed the board, explaining the MOU and defending the partnership between Estancia and Mountainair law enforcement.

Lucero said he and Carter developed the agreement when Lucero took over the Mountainair department roughly 17 months ago. He said the MOU is a standard mutual backup arrangement, not a broad policing agreement, and that similar agreements have existed across New Mexico for decades.

Lucero said when the sheriff first raised concerns regarding the MOU, roughly three months ago, he and Mountainair mayor Peter Nieto contacted the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, which initially said that the governor's office approval was not required. When the issue resurfaced recently, Lucero and Nieto submitted the MOU to the governor's office, which approved it in writing. Lucero said the Estancia-Mountainair MOU is the second such agreement in the state to receive formal approval, alongside one involving the City of Clovis. After receiving proof of formal approval, Sheriff Frazee sent a March 10, 2026, email stating,

"Thank you for providing this information to me. I believe any issues I had have been resolved. We will continue to support your town and in fact all cities, towns, and municipalities within Torrance County with law enforcement protection."

Carter told the board and public that he took issue with the complaint and wanted to address it transparently. He said the department consulted the town's legal counsel and the governor's office before operating under the MOU and was told both times that formal state approval was not standard practice.

Carter acknowledged a specific incident in which all available Estancia officers traveled to Mountainair to execute a felony arrest, leaving the town temporarily without police coverage. A low-priority welfare check call came in during the operation, and Carter said he made a judgment call to prioritize the felony arrest. He said the sheriff became upset when the Estancia officers were heard on the radio operating in Mountainair, which put pressure on the mayor and disrupted the operation.

Carter said he was notified by Mayor Runnel Riley that the complaint had entered a disciplinary process, though he had not been formally interviewed or notified through official channels. Trustee Martin Lucero pushed back on that characterization, saying the board had discussed the complaint in a prior executive session but that he did not leave that meeting with the impression that disciplinary action had been authorized.

The board and Carter agreed to establish clearer protocols going forward, including standard operating procedures requiring the chief to notify the mayor or mayor pro tem before committing Estancia resources to operations outside town limits. Incoming Town Clerk Navarrette suggested routing citizen complaints through her office to create an independent record, a proposal that was well received by both the board and Carter.

Trustee Amy May noted that at a recent New Mexico Municipal League event in Santa Fe, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller told her he was jealous of Estancia's police department, saying an Albuquerque officer who lives in Estancia regularly praises the department.

New Town Clerk Introduced

Mayor Riley introduced Veronica Navarrette as the town's new clerk. Navarrette told the board that her official start date will be April 6, 2026, but she plans to begin reviewing town finances before then.

Budget Concerns and Financial Oversight

Trustee Martin Lucero requested that the town begin producing a profit-and-loss statement to accompany the bill list at each meeting. Trustee May raised concerns about payroll costs, noting that the town is paying three employees who are not currently present, as well as overtime.

Trustee Albert Lovato stressed the need for a budget workshop, originally scheduled for March 20, 2026, but pushed back to accommodate Navarrette's start date. After discussion, the board tentatively scheduled a budget workshop for April 13, 2026.

Trustee Lucero also flagged that the town's third-quarter financial report has not been submitted to the state Department of Finance and Administration, and that preparation for the fourth-quarter report needs to begin.

The board approved hiring John Jennings, CPA, LLC, to help establish a verified cash balance for the town's audit. Discussing the audit, Riley said, “We're just going to have to take the hit on [20]25, Chris told us the other night, and [the audit] will go in uncertified this way. That’s the way it is. You know, we start with clean numbers [in FY2026]." Riley did not identify the individual named Chris, whom he repeatedly referred to during the meeting.

Riley's utterance regarding the audit is significant, as will be addressed in a separate article.

The original quote for services from Jennings for work as an auditor expired on February 26, 2026. Navarrette said she would confirm whether the quoted rate still applies before finalizing the auditor’s engagement.

Little League Agreement Approved

Trustee Lovato, who is involved with Estancia Valley Little League, presented a facility use agreement between the league and the town. The board approved the agreement with a flat seasonal fee of $100. A provision for year-round use of the town's indoor gym facility was removed from the agreement, as construction on the building is expected to begin upon receipt of previously-secured funding.

Lovato reported the league has grown from 120 participants last year to 138 this season.

Pool Manager Hire Authorized

The board approved advertising for a pool manager position. Lovato said the town needs someone to begin assessing what work is required to bring the municipal pool up to code ahead of summer. The pool is not currently code-compliant, but officials expressed optimism that it could be ready for the season. Lovato also suggested exploring an alternative water source to fill the pool rather than drawing from town wells.

NMED Penalty Discussion

Town Administrator Laura Acosta updated the board on the ongoing matter of a New Mexico Environment Department civil penalty related to the town's drinking water system. The town was originally assessed a $45,000 penalty, which the previous administration negotiated down to approximately $9,000.

Acosta said she has been in contact with NMED and wants to schedule a meeting to fully understand what the town is paying before issuing payment. Trustee Lucero urged the town to act quickly, warning that further delays could result in additional penalties.

Zone Change Clarified

An agenda item listed a zone change at 306 Lassiter Street North from R-1 residential to S-U special use was clarified during the meeting. Trustee May explained that the property owner is actually seeking a change from R-1 to R-2 conventional residential, which would allow a barbershop and nail salon to operate on the property. May said the board had already approved the change at a meeting two weeks prior, but because then-Planning and Zoning official Bill had already sent a public hearing notice, the item remained on the agenda as a procedural follow-up. No further action was taken.

Park Tree Work and Arbor Day Planting

Robert Dupree of Duprees Trees appeared before the board to confirm that the removal of large willow trees at the town park is scheduled for April 6 and 7, 2026. He also proposed planting Arbor Day trees later in April, estimating a cost of approximately $5,000 for containerized trees sourced from Plant World.

The board tabled the tree planting discussion until its April 20, 2026, meeting to allow time to review the budget. Clayton Gardner, who also sits on the Torrance County Soil and Water Conservation District board, suggested the district may be able to help fund the project.

Dupree said if the planting moves forward, he would like to make it a community event, with the town potentially hosting food for attendees.

Flood Zone Progress

Trustee May delivered what she called the most exciting update of the evening, reporting on a recent meeting with the US Army Corps of Engineers. Using advanced computer modeling, the Corps determined that most of Estancia is likely no longer in a flood zone, thanks in part to the town's berm and, notably, its tree cover.

May said the Corps is drafting paperwork to submit to the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), and the town needs to certify that its berm remains structurally sound before the application can be finalized. She cautioned that the longest part of the process will be waiting for FEMA to certify the findings on the ground.

May said the effort has been underway since 2019 and called it a critical step for Estancia's economic development. She said the flood zone designation has effectively frozen real estate activity in town, discouraging property sales, insurance coverage, and bank lending.

May also reported that she and Acosta are working with the New Mexico Grant Authority to centralize the town's grant administration and are pursuing additional congressionally-directed spending through Senator Ben Ray Luján's office.

Community Events Announced

Trustee Lovato announced that Estancia Valley Little League will hold its opening day on April 5, 2026, with an Easter egg hunt at 11:00 AM, an opening ceremony at noon, featuring a helicopter delivering the ceremonial game ball, and the first game of the season at 1:30 PM. Free hot dogs and drinks will be available for kids and coaches.

Trustee Patrick Sanchez reported that he has secured a band for the Old Timers' Day celebration and is seeking sponsors to help cover the cost.

Mayor Riley closed the public portion of the meeting (the board went into a brief executive session) by announcing he plans to present a certificate of appreciation to Billing Clerk Laura Acosta for her work holding the town together during a period without a permanent clerk.

Riley also disclosed that he will be undergoing a medical procedure, scheduled between the board's next two regular meeting dates, and said he expects to return within a few days, barring complications. Navarrette reminded the mayor that he will need a medical release before returning to duty and asked that he designate an acting mayor in writing during his absence.