Las Cruces Police Department

The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) is the principal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico. LCPD, established in 1928, currently has an authorized strength of 200 officers and 83 civilian positions; LCPD serves a community of over 100,000. The Las Cruces Police Department is the second largest municipal police department in New Mexico.[1]

The department is allotted the following billets:

Title Positions Insignia
Chief of Police 1
Deputy Chief 2
Commander 2
Lieutenant 6
Sergeant 23
Police Officer/Detective 157

The current chief of police is Patrick Gallagher.[2]

Equipment

Transportation

The Las Cruces Police uses the following vehicles.

Weapons

Notable events

In February 2020, officer Christopher Smelser killed Antonio Valenzuela during an arrest after a traffic stop. Valenzuela ran from police, who attempted to tase him, eventually subduing Valenzuela on the ground. In a video of the incident, Smelser told Valenzuela, "I'm going to fucking choke you out, bro", and Valenzuela was heard gasping for air be heard gasping for air. The autopsy ruled that Valenzuela died of "asphyxia injuries due to physical restraint", with the department's police chief stating that Smelser had used a "vascular neck restraint". The autopsy also stated that methamphetamines consumed by Valenzuela also "significantly" contributed to his death. In June 2020, Smelser was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the police department wrote a letter of intent to fire Smelser.[5]

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References
  1. "Police Department - Services | City of Las Cruces". las-cruces.org. Retrieved 2017-10-18.
  2. "Chief Patrick Gallagher - Services | City of Las Cruces". www.las-cruces.org. Retrieved 2018-05-21.
  3. "Las Cruces Police Department". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  4. "Las Cruces Police Department". www.facebook.com. Retrieved 7 April 2020.
  5. Stelloh, Tim (June 10, 2020). "Officer on video saying he'll 'choke you out' before man dies is charged with manslaughter". NBC News. Retrieved June 11, 2020.


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