Bernalillo County sheriff boots firefighters from helicopter unit over marijuana policy

OG article by Nakayla McClelland

January 1, 2026

Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen decided in early June 2025 to remove firefighters from the Metro Air Support Unit (MASU) helicopter operations due to a county policy change in December 2024 that permits off-duty marijuana use and eliminates random cannabis testing. This decision followed the 2022 helicopter crash that killed three BCSO deputies and a BCFR specialist, prompting Allen to rebuild the unit with heightened safety standards to prevent further loss of life. Despite firefighters offering to comply by signing a memorandum of understanding for random urine and breath tests—where positive results would bar participation—the sheriff rejected this, prioritizing zero tolerance for any impairment risk in aviation and rescue missions. The union expressed frustration, noting full willingness to adhere to BCSO protocols, and plans to challenge the decision's compliance with collective bargaining. BCSO has replaced the firefighters with UNM Hospital staff, maintaining unit capabilities without compromise.