SUBMITTED BY: SGT. JOE TRISTE


T


LAS CRUCES PD THEN & NOW


he City of Las Cruces is the second larg- est city in New Mexico after Albuquerque and is home to the famous Organ Moun- tains. Interstate 10 and Interstate 25 run through the city, bordered by El Paso, TX and within 50 to 60 miles of the Mexican border in two directions. The population of Las Cruces has grown to 100,000 the last few years, and the department has


maintained a staff of 191 commissioned officers. Because of the newly established Spaceport America within the city’s County of Doña Ana, a population increase is predicted in the near future.


18 THE MOTOR OFFICER™ | SPRING 2014 In October 1947, the Las Cruces Police Department added


two motorcycle officers with an emphasis on enforcing strict traffic laws, including speed limits of 15 mph in school zones and 25 mph zones elsewhere within the city limits. Over the years, the Traffic Section’s motor unit has grown to 12. The motor unit is comprised of one lieutenant, two sergeants and nine officers. Harley-Davidson®


Police motorcycles are the motorcycle


of choice for LCPD. Some motor officers attended the Police Motorcycle School offered by Northwestern University Traffic Institute, in Albuquerque, NM. In 2002 LCPD sent two officers to instructor training through NUCPS. Motor officers Joe Triste and John Trujillo were the first certified Police Motor-


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40