The tone was respectful and the disagreements few as the four candidates for Santa Fe County sheriff squared off in their first forum of the primary campaign season Wednesday.

One of the only real differences of opinion came in reference to a question about whether law enforcement agencies should be able to hire retired officers, or so-called "double dippers." Gov. Bill Richardson recently signed a law forbidding double-dipping — or drawing a salary and retirement benefits at the same time.

Santa Fe County Undersheriff Robert Garcia, 54, said he supports hiring experienced, retired officers because satisfactory candidates for deputy are hard to find.

"I'm all for double-dipping in regard to the public-safety sector," said Garcia, who also spent more than 20 years with the city police department.

Garcia's boss, Sheriff Greg Solano, has been a proponent of hiring retired officers.

Rubel Tafoya, 38, a former Santa Fe County sheriff's deputy, said that while hiring retired officers can be beneficial, the current economic hardships make it less palatable.

"Money is short," said Tafoya, currently a deputy with the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office. "How do you justify paying someone two salaries for one job?"

Charlie Dalton, 52, a 20-year veteran of the Santa Fe Police Department, at first seemed to be against double-dipping, saying young people, like his daughter in the audience who just started at the city police department, needed opportunities. However, in the end, he said he would lobby to be able to hire retired police and fire personnel.

Rex Doerfer, 67, who spent more than 20 years with the sheriff's department, was far more definitive.

"I don't think it should be done," he said. "Double-dipping is something I feel strongly against."

That answer prompted Solano, who was sitting in the audience, to ask Doerfer if he would draw both a pension and a salary if elected sheriff. Elected officials are the only state employees allowed to double-dip, Solano said.

Doerfer said he would suspend his retirement until his term in office was over. Dalton seconded Doerfer's proclamation.

"I didn't spend 20-plus years in law enforcement to get rich," Dalton said to laughs from the audience.

Garcia said his retirement was paltry and that he would re-visit the question at a later date. Tafoya is the only one of the four who hasn't retired.

As for problems with the sheriff's department, Dalton and Garcia both brought up property crimes as a source of concern.

Garcia said 70 percent of burglaries are being committed by juveniles, and he complained about the difficulty of incarcerating underage offenders. Dalton said he'd like to see more foresight in combating problems and that the burglary increase was predictable.

"We need to plan for these things," he said.

Doerfer said he wants deputies to "quit playing traffic cop and do community service in neighborhoods." Tafoya said the courts and Legislature need to be tougher on criminals and that the lack of available manpower in Santa Fe and Bernalillo County negatively affects morale among deputies.

All four candidates are Democrats and will face off in the June 1 primary. There is no Republican opposition at this time.

A crowd of about 50, including candidates' family members, constituents and others running for office, turned out at the NEA Building on Boltuph Road on Wednesday evening for the first forum between the candidates. Other candidates for office in the audience included state district judges Sarah Singleton and Sheri A. Raphaelson, the district's child support hearing officer Mary Marlowe-Sommer, state Rep. Brian Egolf, County Commissioner Harry Montoya, running for land commissioner, and Lenny Roybal, running for a seat on the County Commission.

Jason Auslander can be reached at 986-3076 or :jauslander@sfnewmexican.com.