Sam Bregman
Here are some of what Sam Bregman has done (or pushed for) as Bernalillo County District Attorney — followed by what critics say or where people believe there’s room for improvement.
What Sam Bregman Has Done / Claims as DA
Appointment & Background
He was appointed in January 2023 by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham to fill the vacancy left by Raúl Torrez, who became NM Attorney General. Governor Lujan Grisham+2AP News+2
Before that, he had decades of litigation experience (both civil and criminal) and had served in roles such as Assistant DA, Deputy State Auditor, on the Albuquerque City Council, etc. Bernalillo County District Attorney+2AP News+2
Managing a Large Office
He runs a big DA office — about 330 attorneys as of his statements. Source New Mexico+1
He’s added staff: “hired over 80 lawyers” in the office under his leadership. KOB.com
High-Profile Prosecutions / Murder Convictions
He says the office has prosecuted more than 300 murders since he took over. Source New Mexico+1
Also, thousands of DWI cases have been pursued (over 2,000) under his term. KOB.com
Initiatives Against Crime & Safety-Focused Operations
Operation Route 66: A multi-agency focused operation launched in 2025, targeting violent crime, drug trafficking, etc., especially in high-crime areas (including the “International District” in Albuquerque). Arrests include probation violators, out-of-county/out-of-state/federal warrants, etc. Bernalillo County District Attorney
Retail Theft / Organized Retail Crime: Under new state law, when retail theft is coordinated, cases might be consolidated, sometimes elevated to felony, and the DA’s office under Bregman has taken on more bite in prosecuting repeat retail theft. AP News
Pretrial & Public Safety Policy
Bregman has pushed back against easy pretrial release in certain dangerous cases. He has said that some defendants, due to their alleged crimes, pose risks that require keeping them detained before trial. AP News+2Source New Mexico+2
He has been active in addressing the fentanyl crisis. Bernalillo County District Attorney
Collaboration with Law Enforcement Agencies
His office seems to work in partnership with APD (Albuquerque Police Department), State Police, Sheriff’s Office, Probation & Parole, etc., especially in joint operations like Operation Route 66. Bernalillo County District Attorney
Also, part of his role includes being chair of the Organized Crime Commission. Bernalillo County District Attorney+1
Criticisms / Areas Where People Say He Has Fallen Short
Crime & Public Safety Still a Major Concern
Some critics say that despite his efforts, crime — especially violent crime — remains high in Albuquerque / Bernalillo County, and many residents don’t feel safer. The perception is that results, while real in some metric (convictions, cases), haven’t translated fully into reductions in crime or improving quality of life in high-crime neighborhoods. AP News+1
Resource & Staffing Challenges
Even with hiring more lawyers, some argue that the DA’s office is still under-resourced given the volume of cases, crime, drug trafficking, etc. Delays, backlog, or inefficiencies are sometimes noted in local media. (Though not all details are public.)
Balancing Toughness & Fairness
There are tensions: for example, pushing for stricter prosecutions and keeping people in pretrial detention vs concerns about defendants’ rights, fairness, over-crowding, etc. Some advocacy groups may feel he leans toward punitive approaches.
Scope of Influence / Policy Outside Prosecution
As DA, his authority is mostly prosecutorial. Some critics feel that broader issues—poverty, education, mental health, homelessness—also drive crime and are not addressed enough in his proposal or action plans. Some of his campaign messaging stresses public safety, but critics want more holistic policy solutions.
Rural / Non-Metropolitan Coverage
Because Bernalillo County includes ABQ, much of the attention (media, operations) is on urban crime. Some rural or smaller communities say they are less visible in his initiatives, though as DA his jurisdiction is more urban. Critics may argue he needs to show more impact across the whole state if he wants to govern statewide.
Political Criticism / Messaging
Some view his campaign claims (e.g. “prosecuted more than 300 murders”) with skepticism: numbers may be accurate, but critics point out that conviction vs case charges vs outcomes aren’t always the same. Also, critics sometimes say that focusing heavily on crime issues risks overshadowing other priorities (healthcare, environment, education) that also matter deeply to voters.