Got a complaint about noise, barking dogs, abandoned vehicles or any other "nuisance?" Officers Manny Jaure (left) and Vickie Toney are here to help. In Silver City, they should be residents' first call.Silver City -- Having a problem with a neighbor's barking dog, an abandoned vehicle in the street or any other quality of life issue in Silver City?  Rather than complaining to town councilors who volunteer their time or calling city hall, code enforcement officers Manny Jaure and Vickie Toney should be residents' first contact.

"I love working with people," says the affable Jaure, who always seems to smiling. "I love working with the community."  Toney, animal control officer, is "all about the animals and public safety." Together, Officers Toney and Jaure form the Silver City Police Department's code enforcement team. 

Their job, they say, is to educate residents about local ordinances and help them come into compliance.  

"Most people want to be in compliance," Jaure says.  "We give people time to get into compliance, once a complaint has been made and we make a call to the home.  Vickie and I are here to help protect people's health, welfare and safety, and that of the animals too."

Once a person is notified of a violation, Jaure and Toney generally give residents 14 days before issuing citations, which are then remanded to Silver City Municipal Court.

Specifically, code enforcement encompasses issues related to local "nuisance" ordinances involving animals, noise complaints, weed control, all types of abandoned vehicles or buildings, unhitched trailers on city streets, excessive garbage or litter, accumulation of stagnant water, aggressive panhandling, the blocking of right of ways, disturbances from too-bright lights, and myriad other quality of life, health and safety issues. 

Code enforcement shifted from the town's Community Development Department to the Police Department more than a year ago to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of code enforcement efforts, as well as to protect public safety, explained James Marshall, assistant town manager.  

"Because Officer Jaure is a commissioned patrol officer, he can also make traffic stops for code enforcement issues such as an uncovered load, for example, thereby increasing efficiency and more fully utilizing his time," Marshall said. The move also gave Chief Portillo the opportunity to dedicate a full-time officer to other community outreach activities.  Jaure is a trained DARE officer, and was recently named the program's New Mexico public information officer. Officer Jaure also wears the title of community resource officer, and works directly with Police Chief Freddie Portillo and fellow officer Leticia Lopez to organize various community outreach events, including "Trunk or Treat" at Halloween, holiday toys, coat and food drives, and other projects.  

For more information about code enforcement, contact Silver City Police at (575) 538-3723.  To register a complaint, please contact Central Dispatch at (575) 388-8840, or leave a message at (575) 534-6344. Detailed information about town ordinances is available on the town's website, www.townofsilvercity.org.