Bernalillo County Corrections Staff Ring Alarm on Workplace Issues, Take Vote of No Confidence in Warden

AFSCME New Mexico members of Local 2499, Bernalillo County Corrections Officer Association are ringing the alarm on workplace issues affecting safety and staff morale at the Bernalillo County Metropolitan Detention Center (BCMDC.)  

A vote of no confidence in Warden Kai Smith was passed with unanimous support by Local 2499 members on May 15.  

Since his appointment as warden in 2024, we have seen a decline in workplace safety and staff morale. Abrupt firing of well-respected leadership and appointment of unqualified management has led to policy changes that have made an already challenging workplace even more unsafe. Staff have stopped raising issues or making suggestions for improvements, as they fear retaliation for speaking out.  

Policy changes that cut corners have led to more safety issues. In the last couple months, eight officers have been injured in vicious attacks by inmates, and there has been an increase in preventable inmate deaths. Members of the CERT team resigned from this assignment because of these attacks and the lack of reasonable response from Warden Smith to address the increase in safety situations.  

For over two decades, Local 2499 members created a strong working relationship with management. Through Labor Management Committees, regular check ins, and strong worker solidarity at the bargaining table, we created an environment where employees were respected, and our contributions taken seriously.  

Warden Smith has actively dismantled this relationship in less than 2 years. By refusing to meet with us through LMCs or at the bargaining table, Warden Simth has shut out the people who know MDC best – we, the officers.  

Over the last 20 years, we created high standards for officers to make the job safer, fairer processes for shift and post bidding, and clear channel of communications with management to ensure a secure facility. 

On June 9, Local 2499 members will be taking our petition and demand letter to the Bernalillo County Commission. We are asking the commission to replace Warden Smith with someone who understands the work needed to run a safe and efficient detention facility. Additionally, we are calling for improvements in staffing and training, so we can continue to provide the highest quality of safety to those housed at MDC and our community.  

Our expertise on the job and our unified voice matters. That’s why Local 2499 members are fighting back and standing up for our jobs, our coworkers, people housed at MDC and the community we serve.  

Join us in solidarity by lending your name to our petition.