VIDEO: Valencia County Commissioner seen disrespecting courthouse security staff
VALENCIA COUNTY, N.M. (KRQE) – A Valencia County Commissioner is in hot water after video surfaces of him refusing to follow directions while attempting to go through court security.
Commissioner Joseph Bizzell: You need to learn who you are talking to.
Security: I don’t know who I’m talking to, did you identify yourself?
In November 2023, Valencia County Commissioner Joseph Bizzell walked into the county courthouse. Video shows within seconds of coming in, Commissioner Bizzell didn’t plan to follow standard screening protocol. He at first refused to leave behind his cell phone.
Security: Even if you’re a commissioner you can’t have your cell phone in here sir.
Commissioner Bizzell: I’ll take care of it.
After the phone debacle, the commissioner returned.
Commissioner Bizzell: I’m not putting my wallet in there.
Security: You have to put your wallet in.
Commissioner Bizzell: Why?
The commissioner and members of the security staff continued to go back and forth for several minutes.
Commissioner Bizzell: I’m not putting my wallet in there because you guys are thieves.
Eventually, security staff tell Bizzell he can either follow directions or leave.
Security: You’re all good.
Commissioner Bizzell: Do you have a problem now?
Security: No, because you did what I asked you to do.
The interaction was initially brought to Valencia County Sheriff Denise Vigil’s attention when Commissioner Bizzell came to her to complain about mistreatment. “It was really shocking to see that it was the other way around rather then his original complaint so it was disappointing,” said Sheriff Vigil.
As she went through body camera footage, she said one thing really caught her attention.
Security: Well how am I supposed to know who you are?
Commissioner Bizzell: I control your budget.
“He made it a point to tell them who he was in a demeaning manner in my opinion then went on to state that he controls their budget so it was pretty tough to watch that yeah,” said Sheriff Vigil.
Vigil said her staff was just doing their jobs. She added that the sheriff’s department didn’t make the rules but the judges did in order to ensure the safety of everyone inside the courthouse. “You can buy a wallet where a knife is hidden in that wallet so there’s multiple things that are sold online that can be hidden,” said Vigil. She said no one is exempt.
Commissioner Bizzell: I’ll be calling the sheriff.
Security: Go ahead, that’s fine. We have a job to do here sir.
Sheriff Vigil wrote a formal complaint to the county commissioners, she said the commissioner did later apologize to the staff involved.
KRQE News 13 reached out to Commissioner Bizzell for comment and did not hear back.
