Las Cruces Police Department Chief Jeremy Story has introduced a summary of changes that can be made to help make Las Cruces a [safer place].
Source: City of Las Cruces
The three short-term goals include:
- Fill open positions within LCPD. The department has a capacity of 220 commissioned law enforcement officers, but currently has 25 vacancies.
- Replace constitutionally problematic ordinances with ordinances that are enforceable in their entirety, ordinances that would give officers tools to address the issues businesses and residents are facing.
- Establish a Real-Time Crime Center within LCPD. A RTCC would prevent crime from occurring, help solve and prosecute crime and help increase officer safety.
The three long-term goals include:
- Address competency issues. Too many criminal cases are being dismissed in Municipal Court, Magistrate Court and District Court.
- Address Bail Reform. The 2016 constitutional amendment has been ineffective at protecting New Mexicans.
- Address the fentanyl and meth crisis. Many of the increases in crime over the last few years are directly related to the increase usage of fentanyl and meth.
On March 1, Chief Story released a video expanding on the six goals he has set to help make Las Cruces a safer community. The video can be seen on the City of Las Cruces YouTube channel and on LCPD’s Facebook page.
