John Francis

 

John M. Francis started his career in Public Safety in 1980 after graduating from high school. After becoming a Volunteer Firefighter with the Bernalillo County Fire Dept., He attended the Emergency Medical Services Academy at the University of New Mexico and became an EMT. Shortly thereafter, Obtained employment with a private ambulance service in Belen, NM while still volunteering his time with BCFD.  He later worked in Espanola, NM with the Rio Arriba County Ambulance Service and obtained his EMT-I certification. in 1982 he was recruited by an ambulance service in Roswell NM where he worked until 1984. He then joined the Hobbs Fire Dept. as a Firefighter/EMT-I where he also joined the NM Mounted Patrol. (A reserve component of the New Mexico State Police) In 1988 John decided to move back to the Albuquerque are and joined the Rio Rancho Dept. of Public Safety.  In those days, Officers were true "Public Safety Officers". This meant that they had to perform the function of a Police Officer, Firefighter and EMT all in one. Eventually, RRDPS split the Police and Fire Department's and John continued his law enforcement career and maintained his EMS License throughout his entire career. John was assigned to the Patrol Division as well as Bike Patrol and Criminal Investigations. His last 12 years were spent as the Department's Public Information Officer. He retired in 2012 after 31 years in Public Safety. He continues to serve as a Reserve Deputy in Sandoval County.