A Keystone Member of Torrance County’s Public Safety Community Retires
Tracey Master has been part of Torrance County's public health apparatus, in one form or another, since 1998. Back then, Master explained, she was the media representative for the Torrance County DWI Planning Council. Later, Master held the role of Torrance County Dispatch representative to the DWI Planning Council. By May 2004, she was the DWI Prevention Program Coordinator, a title Master held until December 29, 2023. On that date, Master retired from working for Torrance County. Master noted that this was a job that defined her existance as a person. "It was important to be available and to provide services for my community," she said.
In an email to the Mountainair Dispatch, Master wrote, "When I began working as program coordinator, substance abuse prevention and DWI prevention were contained to alternative activities in the Moriarty and Estancia school districts, as well as a billboard on I-40, just west of Moriarty."
Master said that her work regarding substance abuse and DWI prevention expanded Torrance County's involvement to include education for students in all of Torrance County's school districts. Master explained that her leadership in the program had led to a designated driver program, the Torrance County Magistrate DWI Court Program, public service announcements on billboards, a therapeutic program for offenders ("moral reconation therapy") designed for improved moral judgments and lower rates of recidivism, and classes for the community on anger management, parenting, suicide prevention, and mental health first aid. Master said that the DWI prevention program also offered activities to the public to reduce risks of DWI incidents, namely dances, field trips, a 5 kilometer running event, DWI simulators, and FatalVision or "drunk goggles."
Master explained how her work adapted to the social changes brought on by COVID-19.
During Covid, when many other agencies felt they couldn’t provide services to the community, our program developed online prevention programs. We created YouTube videos to teach the Protecting You/Protecting Me curriculum. We had Zoom bingo and crafting classes. We also conducted mental health wellness checks for our community, as so many people struggled with the isolation associated by the pandemic.
Master credited being able to build relationships with local community members, business owners, organizations, governments, and courts as part of the success she saw in the Torrance County DWI Prevention Program.
Through our teen court program, we have provided an alternative for young people who have committed minor legal infractions, giving them second chances, while still holding them accountable for their actions. Teen court has developed wonderful community service programs, including a diaper drive that provided over 200 packages of diapers to local families, and Maliyah’s Closet, a clothing closet located in the teen court building on the Moriarty High School campus.
Master’s retirement celebration was this past Friday.