Public Safety

For too long, New Mexico has lived with high levels of violent and property crime, and too many people have come to see it as normal. I don’t accept that. Crime hurts families, drives businesses away, and pushes people to leave the state in search of safer communities. A state cannot grow or thrive if people do not feel safe where they live and work.

Our crime problem is not inevitable. It is the result of a justice system that has struggled to enforce accountability from start to finish. When consequences are slow or uncertain and criminals are not prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law, deterrence breaks down. That loss of accountability has damaged trust in the system and left communities feeling unprotected.

My plan starts with stabilizing New Mexico’s law enforcement workforce. Police departments across the state are understaffed and stretched thin, with serious recruitment and retention challenges. Vacancy rates in some communities make effective policing nearly impossible, placing added strain on the officers who remain and limiting proactive crime prevention.

According to government data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, the average police officer in New Mexico earns about $60,000 per year, compared with roughly $63,000 in Arizona and $72,000 in Texas. This pay gap makes it harder for New Mexico to compete for officers in a regional labor market where experienced law enforcement professionals can and do move across state lines.

I will push for a long-term funding commitment to make police pay competitive with neighboring states, tied to clear recruitment and retention goals so taxpayers see real results. I also support expanding grant programs that help cities and counties cover the cost of hiring new officers over several years, allowing departments to rebuild without sudden budget shocks.

At the same time, we must be honest about the growing list of responsibilities placed on police officers. Too often, they are asked to respond to mental health crises, addiction, and homelessness without the right tools or support. That is not fair to officers or the people they are trying to help. I support strengthening behavioral health services so trained civilian teams and medical professionals can assist on these calls, allowing police to focus on preventing crime, responding to emergencies, and enforcing the law.

Public safety is the foundation for everything else we want to achieve. Safer neighborhoods lead to stronger schools, a healthier economy, and communities where families want to stay. Restoring deterrence and supporting law enforcement is how we begin building a safer, more prosperous New Mexico.