Sergeant Jaime Mendoza is the highest ranking soldier in the pueblo of Los Angeles's small garrison of Spanish colonial lancers, but mainly functions as personal assistant of the absolute civil and military chief, the alcalde (first seasons Luis Ramon, later Ignacio de Soto). Jaime is an orphan, by nature docile, not too bright nor ambitous, and mainly interested in food. Professionally he must enforce he alcalde's harsh orders, clearly often against his own feelings, and actually admires and somewhat appreciates Zorro, who tries to go easy on the dufus, which he considers as a friend of the familly as do Diego.