Doña Ana County, DAC is dedicated to assisting in fulfilling the County’s commitment to the highest standards of ethics and compliance.  DAC created a County Compliance Office, which is a program that supports the county’s mission of providing innovative leadership and teamwork in a fair, respectful, and professional manner.  It establishes and provides resources to assist county employees and elected officials in making ethical decisions in their work.

The County Compliance Office is responsible for processing complaints alleging county government misconduct and violation of the Code of Conduct, in accordance with the ordinance governing the Doña Ana County Code of Conduct, and Human Resources Policies and Procedures.

The Compliance Office provides staff and assistance to the Code of Conduct Review Board.  The Review Board consists of five appointed members who determine the merits of sworn and signed complaints submitted to the Compliance Office.  The Board determines the merits of the complaint through a hearing process

The Compliance Office provides awareness materials and coordinates Code of Conduct training for elected officials, employees, and volunteers.  The Compliance Office maintains an open-door policy and meets privately and confidentially with employees and/or the public to answer questions and provide them with information about the Code of Conduct.

The Compliance Office encourages all employees and citizens to report all types of issues or concerns to the Compliance Office or through the Ethics Point Hotline. The Hotline is designed to give employees and the public every opportunity to report complaints or concerns related to alleged violations of the Code of Conduct and Human Resources Policies and Procedures.

Please view the Code of Conduct here.

For more information about the County Compliance Office, please contact Robert Parra at
575-525-5915.

Purpose of the Code of Conduct Compliance Office

• Establishment of guidelines for ethical standards of conduct.
• Improvement of the quality of public service
• Provides resources to assist county employees and elected officials in making ethical decisions in their work.
• Provides guidance on the filing of complaints and the process of complaints
• Accountability
• An independent county employee who accepts and processes complaints alleging county government misconduct and violations of the Code of Conduct in accordance with the ordinance.
• Provides staff and assistance to the Doña Ana County Code of Conduct Review Board.
• Sits on the review board and remains unbiased and impartial.
• Receives, files and submits complaints to the chair of the review board for process and determination.
• Ensures that complaints are routed properly for investigation.  Reports to the review board, county manager and county commission quarterly on the number of complaints, their subject matter, and their resolution.
• Responsible for education of public servants on the code of conduct and the responsibilities of public service.
• Accepts requests for advisory opinions on the meaning and interpretation of the code of conduct that will be reviewed and issued by the board of review with the assistance of the county attorney.
• Provides training and education to county staff, employees, and elected officials.
• Ensures the establishment of guidelines for ethical standards of conduct for all elected officials and employees.

Ethics Point and Hotline - Toll Free Number 855-607-8694

• Designed to give employees and the public every opportunity to report concerns about county operations under the Code of Conduct and Human Resources Policies and Procedures.
• Some examples of reports via the hotline are safety hazards, conflicts of interest, theft, falsifying records.  Reporter may also remain anonymous.
• Complaint is reviewed, notification to managers and the case is process to the appropriate department for investigation, if needed.

Oversight and Accountability

• Monitoring the effectiveness and status of the compliance process.
• Transparency with public, caller, parties involved and management.
• Memo Template: Outcome.
• Confidentiality and release of information.

Resources

• New Mexico Inspection of Public Records Act, NMSA 1978 Chapter 14 Article 2.
• The Open Meetings Act, NMSA 1978 Chapter 10, Article 15.