Bio

My name is Raul D. Villanueva.  I was elected as Grant County Sheriff in November 2022 and I took office on January 1, 2023.  I have previously served as sheriff, for about ten years, until I retired in December 2018.  As I was elected for two consecutive terms, state law required that I sit out one election cycle.  That cycle has passed so I have returned to carry on my life-long dedication to serving the public.

I have spent nearly three decades working in law enforcement.  I began my career in law enforcement in Hurley, NM in 1990.  I then worked for the Silver City Police Department for two years, until I achieved my goal of working for the Grant County Sheriff’s Department.  Between 1995 and 2008 I worked as a deputy sheriff, a corporal and a sergeant for the county.  Then, in 2009 I was asked by the County Commission to take on the sheriff’s role as our sheriff left office mid-term.  There were higher ranking officers than me, but the county trusted my judgment and work ethic.  After that appointment, I ran for office twice and was elected each time by the citizens of Grant County to be their sheriff.

My initial law enforcement training was completed at the Western New Mexico Police Academy, here in Silver City.  Throughout the years I completed many specialized training courses, some of which included: Critical Incident Management, SWAT Training, Gang & Drug Interdiction, Advanced Accident Investigation, Desert Snow Interdiction, Instructor Development, Defensive Driver Instructor, Criminal Investigations.   Once I became a supervisor and then sheriff, I completed additional training course for those roles.  Here are some examples: Leadership, First line supervisor, Budget & Management, Supervision & Management, Advanced Media & Public Relations, and Human Resources

Throughout the years I have discovered that there is more to being sheriff than simply having time in office or the completion of training courses.  I believe that a sheriff should not only be a successful and experienced law enforcement officer, but he or she should be a community leader, a leader who works for the betterment of the county.  The sheriff should work with local businesses, he should establish relationships with community agencies, and he should actively be involved with activities that affect our children.  I was that leader and I plan to be that leader once again.  I have always had an open-door policy, so if you would like to speak with me, please stop by or call my office and ask for me.

Raul D. Villanueva

Mission Statement

To work in partnership with our community and surrounding agencies to provide effective and professional public safety services with integrity, honor, and compassion.

Values Statement

The Grant County Sheriff’s Office embraces these Core Values: Respect, Trust, Excellence and Service.

Respect: As community servants, the Sheriff’s Office will treat the public and each other ethically and with dignity.

Trust: The Sheriff’s Office understands trust is earned from our community, through honest actions and open dialogue.

Excellence: Office members will provide the highest level of customer service, constantly seeking improvement which evolves with the needs of our community and our Office.

Service: Members of the Sheriff’s Office place the well-being of others above their own. Recognizing the importance of each Office member, we do our utmost to encourage and assist one another to develop as professionals.

Vision Statement

To be a leader in public safety through innovation, continuous learning and quality leadership. We will pursue and employ the best trained, equipped and committed professionals who demonstrate the highest standards of excellence. We will enforce laws, preserve the peace, prevent crime and apprehend offenders; while providing secure and humane detention of persons entrusted to our care. We will remain committed to enhancing the quality of life for all the people of Grant County.

When should I call the Sheriff’s Office?

Often time’s citizens are unsure of when to call the Sheriff’s Department outside of an emergency. Because of this indecision, we often miss out on valuable information that might help us solve a crime.

Our department is interested in any activity that you as citizens feel is suspicious or of a criminal nature. Your phone calls are valuable to us. If you think something isn’t right, it probably isn’t. It’s best to call us so we can check things out. Recording the following information before calling is useful:

• Vehicle, make model, year, color, license plate.
• Descriptions of suspicious people: age, race, clothing, height, weight, etc.
• Exact locations, dates and times.
• The activity the people are involved in.

Never place yourself in a dangerous situation! You pay us to do that. You also might be experiencing, a problem with speeding motorists, loud neighbors, or may have a question. We are always ready to serve and just a phone call away.

Central Dispatch

Central Dispatch is the 911 Emergency Call Center for all the Grant County Agencies. Central Dispatch is a 24 hour organization and handles all calls for service.

For Non-Emergencies Dial: 388-8840

If there is no threat to life or property, the call is not in progress and needs no immediate response from Police, Fire or EMS the call is a NON-EMERGENCY.

FOR ALL EMERGENCIES DIAL: 911

If you feel a situation calls for immediate action or response from Police, Fire or EMS you have an EMERGENCY.

OffenderWatch

Our office is pleased to provide OffenderWatch for the citizens of Grant County. OffenderWatch is the nation's leading registered sex offender management and community notification tool with hundreds of leading agencies in dozens of states utilizing it. Grant County's law enforcement utilizes OffenderWatch to manage and monitor the whereabouts, conduct and compliance status of the registered offenders in Grant County. OffenderWatch provides the most accurate and timely information available and now this information is available to you!

OffenderWatch is updated instantaneously throughout the day as offender addresses and other offender information is updated in our office. You may enter any address in the county and see real-time information on the publishable offenders within the specified radius of the address you enter.

Offenders move frequently, so instead of having to check the maps on a weekly basis, the best way to stay informed is to take advantage of our free email alert system. You may confidentially register as many addresses in the county as you wish, and we will continuously monitor the addresses and send you an email alert if a new offender registers an address within one mile of any address you register. There is no cost for this service and no limit to the number of addresses you can register - your email address and physical addresses are all confidential. Tell your friends and neighbors and be sure to register your home, school, work, gym, day care, park, soccer field, parents or children's homes - any address of interest to you!

Find out more or search for offenders click here!

Grant County Sheriff’s Office

Phone: (575) 574-0100
Fax: (575) 574-0150

Office Location & Mailing Address

Grant County Sheriff’s Department
1400 Highway 180 East
Silver City, NM 88061-7837

Staff Contact Numbers

Raul Villanueva, Sheriff
Phone: (575) 574-0100
Email: rvillanueva@grantcountynm.gov

Anthony Bencomo, Chief Deputy
Phone: (575) 574-0102
Email: abencomo@grantcountynm.gov

Cynthia Campos, Executive Assistant
Phone: (575) 574-0140     Fax: (575) 574-0150
Email: ccampos@grantcountynm.gov

Lynn Baca, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (575) 574-0141     Fax: (575) 574-0147
Email: lbaca@grantcountynm.gov

Sylvia Sierra, Office Assistant 
Phone: (575) 574-0142     Fax: (575) 574-0149
Email: ssierra@grantcountynm.gov

Steven Gallegos, Captain
Phone: (575) 574-0105
Email: sgallegos@grantcountynm.gov