SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Public Safety Law Enforcement Academy held graduation for their latest Public Safety Telecommunicator Class (#172) today, continuing a training program that has prepared dispatchers across New Mexico since 1976.
Held four times a year, the three-week course trains up to 30 aspiring dispatchers for careers with city, county, state, federal and tribal agencies. New Mexico was the first state in the nation to require formal training for public safety telecommunicators.
“It is crucial for public safety telecommunicators to be prepared for anything at all times,” said Jason Foster, deputy director for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. “They are often the first point of contact when someone is experiencing an emergency, and the decisions they make, the information they gather, and the calm they bring to a situation can have a direct impact on the response that follows. This course gives them the knowledge, skills and practical experience to manage real-life scenarios, communicate effectively under pressure, and make sound decisions when they enter the field. These graduates are taking on an incredibly important responsibility, and this training helps prepare them to meet that responsibility with confidence and professionalism.”
Students receive instruction in 911 call handling, mental health awareness, legal issues, the National Crime Information Center system, fire and emergency medical services, critical incident management and hazardous materials response. The course concludes with practical exercises and a state examination.
Recent additions to the curriculum include CPR, racial sensitivity training and peer-to-peer support training. Greg Archuleta Lynch is the lead trainer.
To become a dispatcher, applicants must be at least 18 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED, type at least 35 words per minute and pass background, drug and hearing screenings.
The next Public Safety Telecommunicator class will be held Oct. 5–23, 2026.
For more information about careers in public safety communications, contact communication.recruiting@dps.nm.gov or call one of the recruiters in the following locations – Las Cruces: 505-629-3807; Albuquerque: 505-316-3122; Las Vegas: 505-652-8302.
Class 172 graduates are:
Brianna Fann Alamogordo Police Department
Charles Baca Bernalillo County Communications
Sabrina Romero Bernalillo County Communications
Kayla Wilson Eastern NM University Dept. of Public Safety
Chelsey Lyza Chischilly McKinley County Metro Dispatch Authority
Valarie N. Silva NMSP Communications Bureau
Tracy Vance Pecos Valley Regional Comm. Center
Shayne Dooley Ramah-Navajo Police Department
April M. Vigil Raton Police Department
Mekaila Carmack Rio Rancho Emergency Comm. Center
Mark L. Mercer Socorro Police Department
Sheena L. Nelson Tesuque Tribal Police Department
Chelsea D. Windham Tucumcari Quay RECC
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