Woman: Threats issued by cop
Files complaint against officer

Independent Staff

GALLUP — A secretary for the McKinley County Fire Marshal's Office filed a police report with the sheriff's department to document reported incidents of harassment by a New Mexico State Police officer.

Verlynne Herrera, 35, filed the police report on July 7 with the McKinley County Sheriff's Department. No arrests have been made in connection with the report and no charges have been filed.

According to the report, Sgt. James Lehner, of the state police, repeatedly called Hererra after telling her about an alleged affair between his longtime girlfriend, Lisa Lovato, a secretary for the state police, and Herrera's husband, James Herrera, a Gallup firefighter.

Verlynne Herrera also alleged Lehner called her on June 11 and told her "that he was thinking about getting a gun and shooting the both of them. Then he thought about being a supervisor and he couldn't do that."

Verlynne Herrera also documented an incident on June 18 where Lehner allegedly drove by her residence in his marked state police unit while wearing his police uniform.

"... Lehner stopped his unit and stared at V. Herrera," the report stated. " ... V. Herrera did state that she was scared because she does not know if J. Lehner is capable to follow through with his threat."

Lt. Darren Soland of the New Mexico State Police said the agency is not conducting a criminal investigation into the claims against Lehner and an outside agency would head any such investigation. He would not comment on any possible administrative action.

Fire Chief Robert Soto, Herrera's supervisor, said an outside agency will be in charge of any investigation into the incidents involving his employee, but he is not aware of the status of any inquiry.

"We're kind of at a standstill," Soto said.