WNMU
Press Releases

IMMEDIATE RELEASE: 9/17/01

SILVER CITY—Western New Mexico University Campus Police Patrol Officer Debbie Martinez recently received her commission as an officer of the New Mexico Mounted Patrol.

Martinez is currently enrolled in the WNMU Police Academy. She graduated from WNMU this spring with an Associates of Arts degree in Criminal Justice.

"I have the opportunity now to go back to school. I always knew I wanted to be an officer," said Martinez. "I remember watching Angie Dickinson as Police Woman on television as a youngster."

"I am pretty excited about getting started with the Police Academy. The physical part is challenging and I am looking forward to it. We’ll have at least 10 women in the academy this year," she said.

Martinez became interested in the NM Mounted Patrol because a friend was an officer in the Playas Troop.

"I attended to a couple of meetings of the Mounted Patrol and started by helping and later became interested in becoming an officer," she added.

Following completion of the WNMU Police Academy training, Martinez hopes to get hired with a police department. She has served with the WNMU Campus Police since Nov. of 2000.

The NM Mounted Patrol was formed in the 1930’s as a volunteer group to assist the State Police. In 1941 a statute officially established the NM Mounted Patrol.

Participants are fully trained and certified as officers. They assist when called to duty by law enforcement.

The volunteer group has assisted with activities such as DWI sobriety check points, providing additional security at local events, and traffic control following a hazmat spill this summer. They also ride regularly with State Police officers for team patrol to stay active. "I am delighted Officer Martinez is serving on campus and as part of the troop." said NM Mounted Patrol 2^nd Lieutenant Chris Eng. "She is well trained and poised."

The local troop serves under the Deming Troop. Members of the local group include Martinez, Sgt. Ramon Terrazas, and Eng who also serves as a member of the NM Mounted Patrol Board of Directors.

There more than 20 troops in the state comprised of some 300 commissioned officers.

"This is an all volunteer group. Officers buy their own equipment and uniform," said Eng. "Family support is very essential. We couldn’t function without their support."

To be eligible to be a member of the NM Mounted Patrol individuals must be at least 21 years old, of good moral character, undergo a psychological screening, pass an oral interview and a physical fitness test, and receive classroom training, on-the-job training, and post-commission training. For more information, contact the NM State Police Office.