Paul Michael Joye
Democratic · NM
Paul Joye is a retired Santa Fe police chief who served 19 years with the city police, four as chief. His priorities are pairing deputies with social services and alternative response teams so they can focus on violent and repeat offenders, and faster 911 response times.
Where Paul Michael Joye stands, based on their records
Supports
Immigration (1 record), Public Safety and Crime Control (5 records), Data Privacy (1 record)
Mixed record
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties (2 support · 1 oppose)
Track record
Track record — Immigration
Immigration · 1 support
Told immigrant residents at a packed community meeting that Santa Fe police do not join immigration sweeps. He said police work with ICE only for certain serious crimes.
March 30, 2025Supports Immigration
Source: kpbs.org
Track record — Public Safety and Crime Control
Public Safety and Crime Control · 5 support
Announced that Santa Fe police had cut officer vacancies to 12 of 169 jobs, down from a 22% vacancy rate in 2022.
October 28, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: santafenewmexican.com
As board chair, voted to approve the 911 center's emergency medical dispatch policy for handling medical calls. It passed unanimously.
October 16, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Presented a plan to city councilors to put gunshot-detection sensors in two Santa Fe areas with the most gun crime.
February 5, 2025Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Urged state lawmakers to keep more repeat offenders in jail before trial and criticized the court's pretrial risk tool. He testified to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee.
November 13, 2024Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Seconded a 911 dispatch center board motion to adjust its budget for contract dispatchers, sheriff overtime pay, and an outside review of the center. It passed unanimously amid staff shortages.
January 19, 2023Supports Public Safety and Crime Control
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Track record — Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties · 2 support · 1 oppose
Urged state lawmakers to keep more repeat offenders in jail before trial and criticized the court's pretrial risk tool. He testified to the Courts, Corrections and Justice Committee.
November 13, 2024Opposes Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Signed a Santa Fe police drone policy that bans routine watching of the public and covert spying without a warrant or court order.
July 28, 2023Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: santafenewmexican.com
As deputy police chief, backed Santa Fe's ban on no-knock warrants in a memo to the City Council. The council passed the ban.
October 28, 2020Supports Criminal Justice and Civil Liberties
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Track record — Data Privacy
Data Privacy · 1 support
Signed a Santa Fe police drone policy that bans routine watching of the public and covert spying without a warrant or court order.
July 28, 2023Supports Data Privacy
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Track record — General
General · 10 records
Was endorsed for Santa Fe County sheriff by the Santa Fe New Mexican editorial board.
May 7, 2026
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Was endorsed for Santa Fe County sheriff by outgoing Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
May 4, 2026
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Was chosen by unanimous vote to chair the Santa Fe Regional Emergency Communications Center board, which oversees 911 dispatch.
March 20, 2025
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Was named as a defendant, as police chief, in a civil rights lawsuit claiming an officer ran over a man's leg in 2023.
March 18, 2025
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Submitted police department comments opposing proposed state court rules that set plea and discovery deadlines in criminal cases.
December 26, 2024
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Testified as police chief in a protester's civil trial over officers' 2020 use of force. He said he had not run the internal review and could not explain why it skipped key interviews.
June 3, 2024
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Voted to move the 911 dispatch center's data equipment to a new building, the cheapest of three options at about $934,000. The board approved it 4-2; he said he was frustrated with the process.
September 27, 2023
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Was named as a defendant, as police chief, in a Santa Fe officer's lawsuit over a police dog attack.
January 23, 2023
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Seconded the 911 dispatch center board's motion recommending Roberto Lujan as the center's interim director. The motion passed unanimously.
May 25, 2022
Source: go.boarddocs.com
Was named Santa Fe's permanent police chief by city leaders after serving as interim chief.
March 17, 2022
Source: santafenewmexican.com
Past race Paul Michael Joye ran in:
- County Sheriff - Santa Fe · November 3, 2026 · Santa Fe County, New Mexico