Ride Along in Chaparral and Oro Grande Volunteer Fire Department Meeting, 8/26/2010:

I met up with Sgt. Tarantino at the Chaparral Substation around 9:30 am. After introductions and a tour of the facility, Sgt. Tarantino went about his regular duties with me in tow.

The substation is basically new and well-planned. The holding cells, layout and work areas are far superior to those at the Sheriff's Office in Alamogordo. Chaparral has an Intoxylizer (IR8000) for measuring alcohol levels which was reported to be a major part of the department's work - that and an exploding population of dogs. Tarantino expressed a need for a fulltime Animal Control Officer.

The substation is now almost fully staffed with two and sometimes three officers on duty. It is my understanding that although this particular day was routine, the evenings and nights are when most activity occurs. Otero and Dona Ana work closely together as the community is half in each county. I was able to meet some of the Dona Ana personnel at their office. It was change of shift time so there was more activity at their location.

What was easily observable is that the Otero side has more subtandard housing and smaller lots with more "converted" mobile homes, lower standard of living. This dynamic was solidified when the town was laid out. Otero has small lots, Dona Ana has large lots and acreages and all the schools.

The locals that I saw interacting with the Sheriff's Office were friendly, appreciative and slowed down when they got the finger shake. Some of the roads have speed limit changes that defy logic simply because they are in one county or the other. Don't see why this can't be resolved easily. Also, I would like to note that the street signs in Chaparral are far superior and more numerous than Boles Acres.

The new Otero Health Clinic is not operating yet. The weeds are so high it is impossible to read the phone number on the sign. "Do as I say, not as I do!"

I arrived just in time to attend Oro Grande VFD meeting. Chief Joe Bailey and Gene Crouch removed two batteries from the pumper as I asked questions.

Chief Bailey was the Chief for Alamogordo which has an ISO of 4. He told me that Oro Grande VFD donated $100k to build the Fire Training Center on the Holloman Highway.

Oro Grande has an ISO rating of 9. They have a pumper, a tanker and a brush truck and 10-12 volunteers. They meet once a month. They can only lower their ISO if there was access to more water. They just had their state inspection and came in "in good shape". They have new bunker gear, the protective suits and equipment, which costs about $5K per unit. What Chief Bailey needs is young people to train and learn this skill.