Taos County Sheriff Steve Miera defended his department’s actions during the deadly shootout at the Red River Memorial Day Motorcycle Rally where three people were killed and five injured.
“With the very limited resources that the Taos County Sheriff’s Office had, we did an outstanding job in successfully completing and getting through the weekend,” Miera told KOB 4.
Miera is defending his department after a community meeting was held in Red River. During the meeting, Red River Marshal James Johnson admitted he refused to pay the county to supply deputies for the rally, which attracted more than 25,000 people.
Johnson alleged at the meeting the county wanted him to "pay for their officers to come work in Taos County.” Johnson told residents, per KOB 4, “I thought that that was a slap in my face to have to pay Taos County to come work in Taos County. This year I wasn’t going to do it.”
Residents voiced concerns about what they viewed as minimal law enforcement presence during the rally that Saturday evening when the shootout erupted between two motorcycle gangs – the Waterdogs and the Bandidos.
“Why in the hell would we have to pay the sheriff’s department to come out here to do their damn job?” Rob Shaw, a resident of Red River, asked during the meeting.
Miera insisted he has never solicited money from Red River, including payment to supply deputies. “As the Taos County Sheriff, and since I’ve taken over as the Taos County Sheriff, I have never once solicited or asked for anything from Red River,” Miera said.
Miera said there were contracts between the previous sheriff and the previous town marshal in Red River, but he knew nothing of those arrangements. Miera also challenged allegations deputies were not in Red River during the rally. The sheriff said eight deputies visited bars and liquor stores in Red River that Friday night and didn’t notice anything out of the ordinary.
Miera also said his office was not informed about the town’s security plans for the motorcycle rally. “Not once did the Red River marshal’s office or the town of Red River share their operational plans or the contingencies with the sheriff’s office,” Miera said.
Miera told KOB 4 that all 22 deputies were conducting traffic operations across the county’s 2,2000 square miles. Many of his deputies immediately responded to the shooting and established an outer perimeter around Red River.
Miera said New Mexico State Police officers took over the active investigation of the shooting, while Miera’s deputies secured Holy Cross Hospital in Taos.
“We had received information that some of the ambulances were being followed by these individuals,” Miera said. “Therefore, it was pertinent and prudent to lock down the hospital.”
While acknowledging there are lessons to be learned from the incident, Miera said he would like to see communication improve moving forward. He also welcomes any potential investigations from Red River officials.
Miera also pointed out that nearly 12 other law enforcement agencies responded to the shooting. “Everything came together, like as it should have been,” he said. “It was well rehearsed. These are all well-trained departments, and they did exactly what they were supposed to.”