Dear editor,
Cibola County District Attorney Barbara Romo, by choosing to dismiss two felony charges against Jeanine Jaramillo, set the stage for the deaths of two wellloved public servants in Santa Fe County. Let’s say their names - Santa Fe Police Officer Robert Duran and retired Las Vegas firefighter Frank Lovato. Both were well loved in their communities.
Her reason or excuses for dismissing the cases seem bureaucratic at best - “Needed more information…”
About an obviously stolen bucket truck and high-speed fleeing in Cibola County, very similar to Jeanine Jaramillo’s mayhem here in Santa Fe County? What else did she need to know to do her job?
This is not political - I am a lifelong Democrat. It is certainly not just a Cibola County problem - it is a New Mexico problem.
But accountability for public safety starts with the DA and goes up through the courts, the Legislature and the Governor.
After the tragedy in Santa Fe, Ms. Romo has now refiled the stolen bucket truck case and plans to refile the aggravated fleeing case. A bit late for Officer Duran and Frank Lovato. Better late than never was not better for them or their families.
Trey Berndt
Santa Fe, New Mexico
tberndt.consult@gmail.com