WITH NEW MEXICO STATE POLICE LT. RICK ANGLADA
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SFR: You've been with the state police for 19 years. How long have you been with the Roundhouse detail?
RA:
I've been involved one way or another with security here since 1996. I've actually been in charge of the detail for the last five years.
How many officers do you have at the Roundhouse?
I could give you the number, but I'm not sure we want to let the public know how many, or how few, we have here. Just for security reasons.
How do you put together the detail?
I bring in one officer from every district. And I bring in a criminal agent to handle the investigations so that the patrolmen can stay on their posts.
What sort of traits do you look for when you pick officers for this detail?
You want them to look sharp, because a lot of times the senators and representatives judge our department on what they see here. And so does the public, of course. You don't just want them to stand at their post. You want them to be a people person, outgoing. And I try to bring a well-rounded representation of our department. Different nationalities, males, females…
What are the main security issues your detail deals with every day?
Just dealing with the public. Trying to make sure there are not suspicious packages left behind. Our main duty, mandated by law, is to provide security for senators and representatives during the session. What I do is that I have people posted on the main entrances and exits, the parking lot. We wouldn't want anyone attacked on our watch here. In the past, there have been women getting mugged, purses snatched. So I get officers to escort the people that work here out at night. We want the building to be safe and people to come and go freely.
Is that an issue? Have legislators been pushed around or attacked since you've been here?
They frequently get threatening letters, or what they perceive to be threatening letters: 'If you don't pass this bill, then blah, blah, blah will happen to you.' You have to deal with things like that. We investigate those sorts of incidents. Sometimes they get things in the mail they feel are suspicious, so we open those. I bring in our bomb team for that.
Do you ever have situations where people may disagree with a legislator's bill and start yelling at them, or incidents along those lines?
Sure. Yesterday [Feb. 1], we had all the cockfighters here. They filled up the gallery. I brought in the night shift guys early. That way we had enough response in case anything happened. We just treat people right and with the utmost respect. That way we get it back. When I brief the crews every day, I tell them, 'You never know whom you're going to meet up with at the Legislature.' Of course, in Santa Fe, everyone thinks they're important. But I tell them, 'You'll meet up with former governors, representatives, senators, speakers. You just don't know who they might be, so treat everyone with respect, and it will come back to you.' Over the years, we've gotten a lot of compliments.
What is the most serious incident that has occurred since you started working this detail?
We've had numerous threats. Several sessions back, we had threats to the governor. People harassing some of the secretaries-domestic situations with staff that works here. Of course, there was the incident with former Rep. [Bengie] Regensberg [in 2004]. He was summoned to be on the floor of the House for a controversial vote, and Rep. Regensberg was absent. We were always told we had authority to arrest them and bring them in handcuffs to the floor if that was the only way we could compel their presence on the floor. In the past, maybe some of the legislators would try to avoid a controversial vote. So Regensberg stashed himself in his hotel room. The speaker told us to bring him in even if we had to break the door down. So we went to the hotel, and the fight was on. He allegedly put one of my officers in a headlock. But we brought him down to the floor in cuffs. And, uh, I don't recall what the vote was on. The speaker eventually excused him from the vote. But he claimed we broke his arm in seven places. It was a big mess.
Have any of your officers ever had to discharge their weapon inside the Roundhouse?
No.
Have you seen any sort of, you know, hanky-panky involving the legislators or staff members?
I haven't seen any. But you hear rumors or stories. But personally, I haven't seen anyone or caught anyone. Of course, they all know that there are cameras everywhere. Even on the elevators.
What have you learned about the legislative process from observing all the bills, the committee hearings, everything that happens here on a daily basis?
There's just a lot of give and take on both sides. It's a very interesting process.
Do you think you could ever be a legislator after watching these guys in action?
Maybe. I've thought about it…I'm originally from Taos, so I've thought about going back. The majority of the legislators know me because I've been coming here for so long. I've thought about running.
