Police

LAPD Awarded Third CALEA Re-Accreditation

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Gathered for the award ceremony, from left, CALEA Commissioner Matthew Packard, Colonel, Colorado State Patrol, Los Alamos ECC Accreditation Manager Erica Manzanares, LAPD Deputy Chief James Rodriguez, LAPD Chief Dino Sgambellone, Los Alamos Deputy County Manager Juan Rael,  Los Alamos Deputy ECC Manager Seth Martinez, and CALEA Executive Director Craig Hartley. Courtesy/LAPD

LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) was awarded the Gold Standard in Public Safety Accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) during a special ceremony Read More

FBI: Dulce Man Pleads Guilty To Second Degree Murder

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Dulce man has pleaded guilty in federal court to shooting and killing another man.

According to court documents, in the early morning hours of June 5, 2024, Damian Amarillo, 21, a member of the Jicarilla Apache Nation, shot and killed John Doe in a neighborhood in Dulce, N.M., within the exterior boundaries of the Jicarilla Apache Nation.

The shooting followed an earlier confrontation at Amarillo’s residence. After John Doe left the residence, Amarillo chased him through the neighborhood, assaulted him, and then shot him. John Doe died from his injuries at the scene. Read More

Scenes From LAPD’s Promotions & Appointment Ceremony

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Los Alamos Police Chief Dino Sgambellone welcomes and expresses his appreciation to the families, friends and community members who gathered to celebrate the promotions of Cmdr. Benjamin Irving and Sgt. Samantha Terrazas and the appointment of Cpl. Ronaldo Ulibarri, on Thursday morning in the Magistrate Court at the Justice Center. LAPD Command Staff and the Honorable Judge Catherine Taylor listen at left. Photo by Nate Limback/ladailypost.com

Newly promoted Cmdr. Benjamin Irving takes the oath of office as his wife looks on, Thursday morning in the Magistrate Court at the Justice Center. Read More

FBI: Las Cruces Man Sentenced For Possessing Stolen Handgun While Under Felony Indictment

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Las Cruces man pleaded guilty after being caught carrying a loaded, stolen handgun outside a Las Cruces gas station while under indictment and on community supervision for a felony robbery in Texas.

There is no parole in the federal system.

According to court records, Jan. 14, 2025, Stephen Gregory Smith, 24, was found in possession of a loaded handgun and ammunition outside a gas station in Las Cruces, New Mexico after officers responded to reports that he was harassing customers. During the encounter, Smith admitted he had the concealed firearm in his pocket. Investigators Read More

Los Alamos Police Blotter: March 13-17, 2026

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LAPD News:

The following information is provided by the Los Alamos Police Department.

Neither arrests nor charges indicate a conviction, and neither means that a person is guilty of the charges filed against them.

 

VISENTE ESIQUIO CHAVEZ

March 13 at 5:19 p.m. / police arrested Visente Esiquio Chavez, 36, of Santa Fe at Los Alamos Medical Center and charged him with Battery on a Household Member.

 

ANDREW RODRIGUEZ

March 17 at 7:28 p.m. / police arrested Andrew Rodriguez, 27, of Hernandez on an outstanding Magistrate Court Warrant. Read More

Los Alamos Police Dept. To Host Swearing-In Ceremony For Newly Promoted And Appointed Officers Today

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LAPD News:

The Los Alamos Police Department (LAPD) will host a swearing-in ceremony at 11 a.m., Thursday, March 19, 2026, to recognize newly promoted and newly appointed members of the department.

The ceremony will take place in the Los Alamos Magistrate Courtroom and will be presided over by the Honorable Catherine Taylor.

Family members, colleagues, and community partners will join in recognizing the dedication and accomplishments of these officers as they take on their new roles.

Members of the public are invited to attend and share in this special occasion as the department honors those Read More

FBI: Crownpoint Man Pleads Guilty To Strangulation And Assaulting Officer

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE — A Crownpoint man pleaded guilty in federal court to strangling a woman and attacking a tribal police officer with a taser.

According to court documents, on March 18, 2025, Jason K. Thompson, 40, an enrolled member of the Navajo Nation, attempted to strangle Jane Doe. Law enforcement responded to the domestic violence call and attempted to take Thompson into custody. During a struggle with a Navajo Nation Police Department officer, Thompson grabbed the officer’s taser and deployed it against him with the intent to injure him. Thompson was then handcuffed and placed in Read More

New Mexico State Police Crime Reduction Operation Leads To Multiple Felony Arrests In San Juan County

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NMSP News:

SAN JUAN COUNTY — Wednesday, March 11, the New Mexico State Police (NMSP) Uniform Bureau partnered with the New Mexico Corrections Department’s Probation and Parole Division’s Security Threat Intelligence Unit (STIU) to conduct a coordinated crime reduction operation in San Juan County focused on locating and apprehending individuals who had absconded from probation and had active arrest warrants.

During the targeted enforcement effort, officers and agents worked together to locate individuals who had failed to comply with the terms of their probation and were actively Read More

FBI: Mescalero Man Pleads Guilty To Sexual Abuse

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FBI News:

ALBUQUERQUE – A Mescalero man pleaded guilty to engaging in sexual acts with a minor.

According to court documents, between December 2019, and February 2021, Deverne Torres, Jr., 45, an enrolled member of the Mescalero Apache Tribe, performed multiple sex acts with Jane Doe, a minor who had not attained the age of 16.

Torres pleaded guilty to sexual abuse of a minor. At sentencing he faces up to 15 years in prison.

First Assistant U.S. Attorney Ryan Ellison and Justin A. Garris, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI’s Albuquerque Field Office, made the announcement today.

The Las Cruces Resident Read More