The New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe. Courtesy/LEA
LEA News:
SANTA FE — New Mexico law enforcement agencies this week received 39 new commissioned police officers and 20 telecommunicators following two graduation ceremonies at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (LEA).
Located in Santa Fe, the LEA, a division of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, provides standards for all training and certification of police officers and public safety telecommunicators (PST), for state, county, municipal, and tribal law enforcement agencies in New Mexico.
The academy also hosts advanced and specialty courses, said Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason R. Bowie.
In Fiscal Year 2022, the LEA graduated 120 police cadets and 71 public safety telecommunicators (PST), commonly referred to as dispatchers, and certified 405 police officers and 93 dispatchers. In New Mexico, the LEA manages training, accreditation, and certification of law enforcement officers and telecommunicators in New Mexico, including misconduct investigations and compliance with state statutes and administrative rules, he said.
“This marks the beginning of an extraordinary career in law enforcement as police officers and dispatchers. We are very pleased and encouraged to see these courageous men and women returning to their communities to serve and protect their neighbors,” Bowie said.
In separate ceremonies at the Santa Fe campus, 20 telecommunicators from 11 agencies, and 39 police officers from 21 agencies, received their respective certifications.
“These cadets and dispatchers obtained some of the best training available,” Bowie said.
Department of Public Safety Deputy Secretary and Interim New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Director Benjamin A. Baker said, “These individuals chose a noble and courageous profession. We are confident they have the skills to fulfill the daily mission of their respective law enforcement agency.
“This was the final step in their transformation from everyday citizen to law enforcement officers and dispatchers,” Baker said.
The cadets of Class No. 204 completed a rigorous 17-week regimen of physical and classroom instruction which included training in constitutional policing in accordance with current federal and state case law; de-escalation of force; crisis resolution; dealing with the mentally ill; conflict management; identifying human trafficking in the context of patrol operations; ethics; cultural diversity; officer survival; bomb recognition; gangs and terrorism; and patrolling in the community (Community Policing), Baker said.
Telecommunicator Class No. 157 completed 130-hours of training with instruction in New Mexico law, domestic violence, mental health, suicidal awareness, fire/emergency medical services, hazardous materials (HAZMAT), critical incident management and National Crime Information Center (NCIC) training, Baker said.
The dispatch students completed practical full radio and scenario-based training, as well as 40 hours of the nationally known Association of Public Safety Communications Officials (APCO) Certified Public Safety Telecommunicator (PST) curriculum. To successfully complete the course, the students were required to develop and demonstrate proficiency in the training categories, as well as achieve a passing score on the APCO and New Mexico PST Certification tests. The pressure to respond quickly and calmly in alarming situations is a key, Baker said.
In New Mexico, the LEA manages training, accreditation, and certification of law enforcement officers and telecommunicators in New Mexico, including misconduct investigations and compliance with state statutes and administrative rules.
There are nine accredited satellite academies in New Mexico:
- Albuquerque Police Department;
- Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office;
- CNM Law Enforcement Academy;
- Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office;
- Las Cruces Police Department;
- New Mexico State Police;
- San Juan County Criminal Justice Training Authority;
- Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (Hobbs); and
- and Western New Mexico University Law Enforcement Academy.
Attached are the roster and list of graduates.