Tucumcari police, property manager discuss heavy call volume at Quay Apartments; consider security, trespass training

Tucumcari police and representatives of Monarch Properties on Wednesday told city officials that a single apartment complex on West Sunset has generated a disproportionate share of the department’s calls for service and that changes in property security and manager training are needed to reduce police workload.

Police Chief Lorenzo said Quay Apartments, at 702 West Sunset, drew 369 calls for service in the past fiscal year, including frequent trespass and disturbance calls that the department says often fall outside police authority. "When we're asked to respond to a trespass call and we don't have a report of an actual crime, the police department doesn't have legal authority," Chief Lorenzo said.

The high volume of calls, the chief added, strains staffing and leaves officers less able to respond to other community needs. "When we're there multiple times a day every single day for things that we really aren't supposed to be responding to, when we do show up for something legitimate, the meaningfulness of our response is deteriorated," he said.

Theresa Hester, director of operations for Monarch, and a Monarch regional supervisor said the company has recently increased enforcement actions: the regional supervisor reported issuing 19 10-day notices in one month, 25 the next and 17 in the current month as part of a "zero tolerance" approach. "If that would take a 100 of your calls away, we would love to be able to do that," Hester said, agreeing that training for on-site staff would help.

Chief Lorenzo and Monarch staff outlined two main steps they said could reduce calls: (1) an education session so property managers understand when and how to issue trespass notices and what the police can legally enforce, and (2) resumed on-site security presence. The chief noted past arrangements in which contracted security or off-duty officers provided a visible presence, which he said correlated with reduced calls.

City commissioners and nearby residents pressed Monarch and police to pursue more rapid action. One commissioner, who identified himself as living in District 3 and two blocks from the complex, described nightly foot traffic through a low, damaged fence that allows people to enter the property through the rear alley. Residents asked whether gates or fence repairs could limit access; Monarch staff said they would review the issue but noted some alleys serve dumpster access for adjacent homeowners.

Monarch proposed a recurring coordination meeting with police and city representatives. Monarch staff asked to meet monthly, bring call logs and discuss trends with officers and city leaders. Chief Lorenzo said he would participate and emphasized speed: "We're gonna have to do something quick, fast, and in a hurry because it's becoming unsustainable."

Public-safety officials and Monarch representatives did not propose a formal contract or binding agreement at the session; rather, they agreed on follow-up steps: schedule an education session on trespass authority and procedures, evaluate security staffing options (including licensed security firms), and examine physical site fixes such as repairing fence openings.

The discussion also highlighted that frequent turnover in property management complicates progress: the chief said repeated changes in managers undermine continuity of education and enforcement.

Monarch and police asked the council to support a continuing dialogue and said they would return with proposed schedules and options. City commissioners did not take a formal vote during the meeting.