Public Safety • Law Enforcement • Accountability • Support
Protect Public Safety and Law Enforcement
A comprehensive public safety plan that strengthens law enforcement, supports those who serve, ensures accountability, and honors the sacrifice of New Mexico’s fallen heroes.
Public safety begins with respect — for the communities we protect and for the men and women who put their lives on the line every day. This plan strengthens law enforcement capacity, supports recruitment and retention, improves coordination across agencies, and ensures accountability so every New Mexican can feel safe in their home and community.
Maximum Penalties for Crimes Against Public Servants
If a crime is committed resulting in the death of a police officer, firefighter, or correctional officer, I believe the perpetrator should serve a mandatory life sentence at the SUPERMAX facility in Colorado. The state will pay the federal government to house them.
Establish a New Unit – NM Metro Police
This new department will have its own chief and command structure to assist larger cities with local policing. The aim is not to replace local police but to enhance their capacity to combat crime by increasing the number of officers and available equipment. We will utilize former and retired officers in the cities where they reside.
Recruitment Through Housing Incentives
The housing incentives mentioned in the Affordable Housing section will aid in attracting lateral transfers from police departments outside of New Mexico. This plan involves selling houses at cost, with a monthly payment of $1,500 and no down payment required. All accredited local law enforcement agencies in all New Mexico incorporated cities, and all 33 counties would be eligible.
Collaboration with Local Sheriffs
We will partner with local sheriffs in Hidalgo, Grant, Luna, and Doña Ana Counties to secure our borders and reduce drugs from entering our communities. This effort will also focus on northern counties such as San Juan, Rio Arriba, Taos, Colfax, and Union County.
Pursue a Reduction to 15 Years for Full Retirement Eligibility
Our police officers, firefighters, and correctional officers deserve to receive benefits earlier.
Honoring Our Fallen Heroes
With a heavy heart and profound sense of pride, I would like New Mexico to remember the brave police officers who made the ultimate sacrifice in the line of duty over the past decade. Their unwavering commitment to protecting our communities and our state will forever be etched in our memories. May God bless each of them, and may they rest in peace.
The heroes we honor include:
- Officer Timothy Ontiveros – Bloomfield P.D., May 29, 2025
- Patrolman Justin Hare – NM State Police, March 15, 2024
- Officer Jonah Hernandez – Las Cruces P.D., February 11, 2024
- Officer Anthony Ferguson – Alamogordo P.D., July 15, 2023
- Sr. Police Officer Robert E. Duran – Santa Fe P.D., March 2, 2022
- Corporal Thomas Wade Frazier – Artesia P.D., May 21, 2021
- Officer Darian Jarrott – NM State Police, February 4, 2021
- Officer Jose Ismael Chavez – Hatch P.D., August 12, 2016
- Officer Daniel Webster – Albuquerque P.D., October 21, 2015
Each of these individuals dedicated their lives to ensuring our safety, at the expense of their own. Their bravery and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and we remain eternally grateful for their service.
A concerning trend has emerged: all of these officers have tragically lost their lives while on duty, often alone and without a partner.
Leveraging the National Guard
Within the New Mexico Army National Guard, there are established military police units, notably the 226th Military Police Battalion, which consists of two active companies: the 126th Military Police Company based in Albuquerque (with a detachment in Las Cruces) and the 919th Military Police Company located in Farmington. These units offer an opportunity for individuals to join as Military Police under the 31B Military Police Military Occupational Specialty (MOS), developing valuable law enforcement skills such as patrol, crowd control, investigations, and crime scene management.
By allowing National Guard members to become ‘Military Police Officers’ they will be given expanded ‘Police Powers’ while assisting our full-time law enforcement officers. This will provide crucial partnership support to all law enforcement agencies across New Mexico, including the New Mexico State Police, Sheriff’s Departments, and city police departments. I am committed to identifying funding within the state budget to compensate these officers for their additional hours of service during weekends and evenings in addition or in lieu of their National Guard responsibilities.
My goal is to have a partner for every law enforcement officer in any of our police and sheriff’s departments.
Systemic Reforms
I propose revisiting the qualified immunity doctrine and addressing the catch-and-release practices associated with Arnold Tool Assessments. To incentivize service in our law enforcement agencies, I will also recommend offering zero down payment options for new homes to those who join any of our New Mexico Certified law enforcement agencies.
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