John Allen to be BernCo Sheriff

By Joey Wagner / NM News Port

Democrat John Allen was elected as Bernalillo County’s sheriff. The race was called Election Night as Allen defeated Republican former state representative Paul Pacheco for the open office. Allen makes history as Bernalillo County’s first Black Sheriff.

Allen won 54 percent of the vote. Pacheco attracted 42 percent. The Libertarian candidate, Kaelen Dreyer got 4 percent.

Democrat John Allen was elected Sheriff of New Mexico’s most-populated county, Bernalillo county, winning by a 12-point margin over his closest competitor. Photo courtesy of John Allen.

Allen will replace Manuel Gonzales, who completed two terms in office.

From Allen’s website, he claims “Crime continues unabated in Bernalillo County. We need experienced, data-driven, and reform-minded law enforcement leaders.”

Allen has been in law enforcement since 1997, starting as a police officer, later becoming a detective, and most recently serving as a lead instructor for a law enforcement academy.