In order for a police department to be allowed to hold its own academy in its own districts, it must have access to three specific components of the academy: a shooting range, an agility or obstacle course, and a driving track. Of course, Las Cruces fulfills that requirement now and is able to host its own academies locally.
In fact, for February, they have another robust list of candidates numbering 28, a success in and of itself given the public sentiment surrounding law enforcement officers in our current and continuing political climate. New Mexico and Las Cruces make it especially hard to recruit cadets given the pay disparity, overtime requirement and the vocal outcry against law enforcement officers that the “ACAB” group constantly bemoans during city council meetings.
If you don’t know what ACAB stands for, Google it – it is not a term for polite conversation, yet there are quite a few in our community that ignorantly yet proudly stand behind that sentiment.
Thus, when community meetings were held to decide public interest in a litany of city projects to be paid for by the recent increase in gross-receipts tax, the ACAB group showed up en masse, drawing attention away from critical first responder projects. One such project requires additional discussion to inform the public regarding its critical importance.
As mentioned initially, the police department requires a driving track to complete a portion of its academy. Currently, Las Cruces uses Arroyo Seco, a driving track out near Deming. Unfortunately, that track is quietly crumbling into the desert, due to age and a lack of maintenance.
It is a fading asset that will, at some unknown juncture, be unavailable, likely without notice, to our police department. This will mean that a chunk of the Las Cruces Police Department academy will need to occur in Sante Fe, at the driving track up there, resulting in increased taxpayer expense to shift instructors and cadets 300 miles north for a couple of weeks – hotel accommodations, food allowances and fuel expenses.
Thus, the request to build a driving track in Las Cruces. This is not a frivolous ask, but rather a prudent investment in our department and our officers. Currently, there is no continued training requirement for officers to hone their driving skills, a critical skill needed for officers to perform daily tasks.
This could be implemented with the dedicated law enforcement driving track. It would also benefit the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office in a co-use agreement with the city so that their cadets can utilize the track for their academies.
Additionally, revenue for the city is a possibility, especially with our push to bring film industries to our area. They could rent the track for filming, without having to shut down public streets at exorbitant cost and risk.
Also of interest is hosting sanctioned car meets and drag races for teens in a controlled environment, increasing positive exposure to law enforcement officers and supervised opportunities to display their cars, although that would need to be well-provisioned in insurance coverage and use agreements.
So high is this identified need that Dona Ana County has already paid for construction drawings for the driving track; they’ve invested a couple-hundred thousand dollars to have a shovel-ready project that is more amenable to getting funded.
And so, with the legislative session that started Tuesday, Jan. 20, legislators need to seriously consider this project for funding. It is an investment in our current officers, our future officers, and our communities to ensure that a safe and robust driving training and continuing education program exists.
Las Cruces has the land. Dona Ana County has the plans. Legislators need to ignore the tragically misguided ACAB group and tap into those oil and gas revenue funds to benefit our communities in the oft-forgotten areas of Southern New Mexico.
Shawna Pfeiffer is a life-long Dona Ana County Resident, graduate of NMSU, small business owner, hobby farmer, dog-lover, outdoor enthusiast and mother to two young children. She can be reached at srpfeiffer1@gmail.com.
