McKinley County Sheriff's Office Opens to Public in Renovated Gallup Headquarters

Gallup drivers, victims, and people seeking county services gained a larger on‑the‑ground presence when the McKinley County Sheriff’s Office opened to the public in a newly renovated and expanded headquarters at 1000 E. Aztec Avenue, the county announced after construction completed and the building opened on Feb. 17, 2026. The new facility totals 14,000 square feet, 6,000 square feet more than the department’s previous 8,000-square-foot building.

County officials moved into the new headquarters after deciding the former facility required extensive repairs and was too costly to rehabilitate. The county statement describes foundation settling and shifting as the primary issue that caused significant structural problems in the portion of the building occupied by the Sheriff’s Department, prompting the decision to replace rather than repair the old site.

The 14,000-square-foot building includes expanded space meant to address longstanding operational constraints. The sheriff’s office says the facility provides room for additional offices and storage, adds a new workout facility for staff, and houses an on-site specialized training simulator program intended for departmental training needs. The county presentation of the project emphasizes the increased storage and office capacity as key improvements to daily operations.

Sheriff James Mairano III commented on the move in a Feb. 17 press release tied to the opening, saying, “We are excited to move into our new building. This facility represents a significant upgrade from our previous location, which had numerous structural and space limitations.”

Public access at 1000 E. Aztec Avenue resumed following completion of construction and renovation work; the county noted that an open house for the public will be scheduled once the department is fully settled and that additional details about the open house will be announced at a later date. The county’s latest news item on the move served as the public notice of the opening and the forthcoming open house.

Several project details remain unreported by county materials released with the opening. The county has not yet released the total project cost, the names of contractors or architects, construction start and completion dates beyond the Feb. 17 opening, or the funding sources that paid for the renovation and expansion. County officials and the Sheriff’s Office are listed as contacts for further information; reporters and residents seeking more detail are awaiting the public release of project documentation and a scheduled open house.