Publisher's journal: We need more cops Like Sheriff Reeves

He called me about 5 a.m. that Sunday when Walmart burned. He was awake and working, I needed to be awake and working, too, he said.

I wish all cops were like Mike Reeves.

I've known him probably 25 years, but never better than in the last 12 months when he was Curry County's sheriff.

Not only did he tip me about big news stories, he loved to talk about his days as a photographer with the Clovis News-Journal, I think when he was in high school.

More than once he lamented the times when the police chief, sheriff and newspaper editor would have coffee every morning and devoted themselves to keeping the community informed. He wanted to bring back those days, but kind of on the sly since -- politics being what they are -- it wasn't always well received when cops buddied up to reporters.

He kind of got griped out for talking to me about an incident just a few weeks ago. It didn't occur in his jurisdiction, he explained, but he thought people needed to know what was happening.

Did I mention I wish all cops were like Mike Reeves?

The last time I talked to him was Nov. 30. I was badgering him about doing a Q&A with one of our reporters. He said he would, but he'd been busy and he had to attend a two-week training in Santa Fe so he wasn't sure if he'd have time until maybe around Christmas.

Then he suggested a question he wanted to answer: Who were his favorite fictional crime fighters? The answer, he said, were Reed and Malloy from the 1970s-era TV show "Adam-12."

Fine, I told him, he could ask his own question and answer it. I figured it was the least I could do to pay him back for those news tips.

We lost Mike Reeves early Monday. He was in Santa Fe for that law enforcement training and died alone in his hotel room.

He was 59.

My heart is broken.

David Stevens is editor and publisher of Clovis Media Inc. Email him at:

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