From left to right: Kevin Streine, Steve P. Guerra, Chad Smith and Alina Sanchez - the Firearm and Toolmark Unit at the New Mexico Department of Public Safety Forensic Laboratory in Santa Fe. Several years ago, there was a triple homicide in Las Cruces. Almost...
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Forensic Laboratory Latent Prints Unit, providing impartial evaluations, comparisons for criminal cases across the state
Identical twins and triplets share the same DNA, but no two people, even identical twins, share the same fingerprints. This makes fingerprints a powerful tool in identifying who may or may not be associated with a crime, according to Latent Prints Unit personnel of...
State Law Enforcement Academy announces new leadership
SANTA FE – The Department of Public Safety’s New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy is ushering in a new era in 2026, with leadership changes poised to benefit law enforcement and communities throughout the state. Leading the way for the academy will be newly promoted...
Criminal History Clearinghouse, working non-stop to ensure safety of all New Mexicans
Around the clock, the Criminal History Clearinghouse under the Law Enforcement Records Bureau for the Department of Public Safety is doing their part to keep New Mexicans safe. They do this three ways: by managing ‘threat to life’ calls such as bomb threats, domestic...
License Plate Readers save lives; lead to ‘precise policing’: On anniversary of Officer Justin Hare’s ‘execution’ by Jaremy Smith, state reflects on how LPR technology could have saved his life
When it comes to solving crimes, time is of the essence and information is power. With that power of information comes the opportunity to save lives. On the anniversary of Officer Justin Hare’s death on March 15, 2024, New Mexico State Police Chief W. Troy Weisler...
DPS Cabinet Secretary statement on death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant
SANTA FE – Cabinet Secretary Jason R. Bowie issued this statement following the line-of-duty death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Michael Schlattman: “I am heartbroken by the line-of-duty death of Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Michael...
Statement from Cabinet Secretary Jason Bowie
“The New Mexico Department of Public Safety mourns the passing of Ruidoso Downs Police Chief Mark Collins Hargrove on January 27, 2026. Chief Hargrove served New Mexico with distinction for decades, including leadership roles spanning municipal policing and county...
‘A second chance’: Expungement Unit services New Mexicans looking to seal records
Imagine getting a second chance in life. A chance to start over if you will. That’s probably the most fulfilling part of the job at the Expungement Unit of the Law Enforcement Records Bureau of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety according to their management...
New dedicated team at New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy strengthens statewide law enforcement training, compliance: Use of ACADIS ensures complete, accurate, career-long record
There’s a new team at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. That three-member team led by Katie Reimann, now powers New Mexico’s statewide system of training records, certifications, credentials, and employment history for all officers and dispatchers. The team uses...
‘Hearing them out’: Active-listening; remaining calm, keys to crisis and hostage negotiation; class held at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in December
When it comes to crisis and hostage negotiation for law enforcement, it takes a team. “I believe that it’s a team effort, no one person is responsible for a win or loss in a negotiation,” said Kimberlee Thetford, a 13-year peace officer for the Lubbock Police...