With more money than ever swirling around the state’s budget—$10.5 billion total—everyone wants a piece of the action. For local law enforcement agencies, that means asking for millions of dollars for capital outlay projects to fund new technology, update existing vehicles and buildings, and more.
Here in Albuquerque and Bernalillo County, officials are touting their plans to expand the use of tools like license plate readers and gunshot detection devices, as well as upgrade their facilities and vehicles.
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is asking for:
- $1 million for Flock artificial intelligence technology which will include license plate readers and gunshot detection systems
- $750,000 in recurring funding for maintenance and operation of a new helicopter—dubbed “Metro 4”—that can do search and rescue missions all over the state.
- $2 million for the agency’s vehicles
- $1 million to update the mobile command center for special operations and SWAT callouts. “We have a truck for our negotiators that’s very old, and carbon monoxide poisonous,” said Sheriff John Allen. “I’m worried that they’re basically inhaling fumes at call outs so we need to upgrade that equipment.”
- $800,000 for an infrared camera for the air unit
Total: $5,550,000 million
The City of Albuquerque is asking for:
- $22 million to expand the police department’s Real Time Crime Center with software that can be used by multiple agencies, as well as more Radar, Star Chase Equipment and drone technology.
- $10 million for technology to support officers in the field, including shot spotter
- $9 million each for new police substations, one near the University of New Mexico and the other in Southwest Albuquerque.
- $19.5 million for construction of new fire stations and facilities.
Total: $69,500,000 million
In addition, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham’s administration is recommending:
- $35 million to recruit law enforcement and correction department staff
- $11.5 million to increase the New Mexico State Police compensation plan
- $3 million for the Law Enforcement Retention fund
- $1.3 million for lab technicians and technology at the New Mexico Crime Lab
- $3.2 million for law enforcement equipment upgrades, including body and vehicle cameras
- $7 million to upgrade law enforcement vehicles
- $5 million for a commission on organized crime, which the governor recently revived
- $7 million for staffing at District Attorneys offices around the state
- $514,100 in recurring funding for the Indian Affairs Department’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous People initiative
- $35 million for recruiting firefighters and EMTs
- $1.5 million for a training academy for firefighters
- $1 million to fund enough New Mexico Hot Shot wildfire crews to cover the state
- $80.8 million for a Fire Protection Fund for the Department of Homeland Security and Emergency Management to distribute to fire departments throughout the state
- $20.7 million for grants for fire departments throughout the state
- $2.8 million for the Department of Information Technology to distribute for digital trunk radio systems
Total: $215,300,000