For Immediate Release
April 25, 2023
Las Cruces, NM – The New Mexico State Police and the Las Cruces Police Department have completed an eight-week operation to tackle high-crime areas in Las Cruces.
The goal of this collaborative effort, which began on February 1st, 2023, was to maintain a law enforcement presence in high-crime areas, enforce criminal and traffic laws, identify individuals involved in illegal activity, locate wanted subjects, reduce auto thefts, and build positive relationships within the community.
Officers accomplished this by conducting saturation patrols in the city’s highest crime areas, making positive contact with residents, and reducing the fear of crime. They also carried out warrant roundups, targeting known felons associated with narcotics and violent felonies. In addition, they recovered stolen vehicles linked to drug offenders by locating and apprehending those involved in auto theft.
The operation resulted in a 19% reduction in auto thefts, a 9.9% reduction in burglaries, and a 43% reduction in violent crime in Las Cruces as compared to the same period in 2022. Officers also seized a significant amount of drugs, including 532 grams of methamphetamine and 28,000 fentanyl pills, and $14,000 in cash associated with narcotic sales.
“This joint operation exemplifies how critical our law enforcement partnerships are in keeping our community safe. Through the collaboration of our agencies, our officers’ efforts have resulted in a significant reduction in property crime, several arrests, and the removal of dangerous drugs off our streets,” said Miguel Dominguez, Chief of the Las Cruces Police Department. “We will continue to work together to disrupt criminal activity and provide a safe environment for our citizens.”
Officers made over 1,300 citizen contacts during the operation, issued 111 citations, recovered 9 stolen vehicles, and made 98 arrests. These arrests included 13 felony narcotic arrests, 8 other felony arrests, and 77 misdemeanor arrests. Eight firearms were taken off the street during the operation.
“Collaboration is key to reducing crime in our communities. We cannot tackle this challenge alone, and we must work together with other law enforcement agencies to identify and address the root causes of criminal activity” said Tim Johnson, Chief of the New Mexico State Police. “By pooling our resources, expertise, and information, we can develop effective strategies to prevent crime, apprehend offenders, and keep our communities safe.”
The New Mexico State Police and Las Cruces Police Department will continue to conduct proactive operations like these throughout the year. We encourage the public to report suspected criminal activity to their local law enforcement agencies or the New Mexico State Police.
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