BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. – A ride at the edge of a helicopter would be a once in a lifetime thrill for most, but it’s just part of another work day for deputies in Bernalillo County’s Open Space Unit.

Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy Sergio Cordova joined the unit after five years of patrol work. 

“We all like taking bad guys to jail, but this one was completely different. This was community policing, just talking to the community and just being there in a different aspect,” said Cordova. 

Day or night, snow or sun, this unit covers all unincorporated areas of Bernalillo County. 

“We all see law enforcement driving on streets. We all know we have a helicopter flying around. But I think a gap was recognized in our unincorporated areas,” said BCSO Lt. Tyler Jenkins with the Open Space Unit. 

They can go from patrolling the bosque to helping volunteer organizations rescue hikers on the La Luz Trail in the same day. 

“They’re also going to go into our more troublesome parts of the county and city, and really try to make our community feel safer,” said Jenkins. 

That effort isn’t going unnoticed. The Servpro of South Albuquerque chapter recognized the unit with its Honor a First Responder Award at the New Mexico Bowl football game. The award goes to first responders who go above and beyond normal duties to save lives. 

Servpro chapters across the country present the award at 12 different bowl games. 

“It’s an exciting thing to be recognized like that. We don’t ask for recognition. But of course, when it happens, it’s a great thing to have,” Jenkins said. 

Sergeant Chris Star accepted the award and then passed it along. 

“It’s been a really interesting little journey for this unit. They gave us this little coin, which I wanted to give to the sheriff. Our success is a result of your support. So thank you very much,” said Star.

Proving outside city limits can be just as important as inside. 

“They’re not just seeing us as, ‘Hey, somebody’s gonna go to jail today.’ It’s a ‘Hey, we’re a piece of the community. We’re just humans, like everybody else.’ And we’re there for them,” said BCSO Deputy Sergio Cordova with the Open Space Unit.