The New Mexico National Guard has begun training to provide assistance to the Albuquerque Police Department along the Central Avenue Corridor and elsewhere.
Operation Zia Shield, slated to begin next month, will involve personnel from the Air National Guard and Army National Guard.
Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced Tuesday she would deploy 60-70 members of the Guard at the request of APD Chief Harold Medina, who wanted the extra manpower to fight crime in the city.
According to New Mexico National Guard Spokesperson Hank Minitrez on Thursday, the members will serve in non-law enforcement roles, such as:
- Providing scene security and traffic control at critical incidents.
- Medical assistance and humanitarian efforts along Central Avenue.
- Prisoner transport assistance.
- Security support at Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
- Operational assistance with the APD drone program.
The guardsmen will not be armed for this support mission, or be dressed in military uniform.
“We’re finally seeing a sustained positive shift in most crime trends for the first time in decades, and now is the time to build on that momentum,” Mayor Tim Keller said in a news release. “We appreciate the governor and National Guard’s offer to help. Given fiscal uncertainty from possible federal cuts to law enforcement … we will continue to push for every available resource for Albuquerque.”
Keller said support from National Guard members has worked in other cities, and that if it proves effective here, it could remain in Albuquerque.
Maj. Gen. Miguel Aguilar, the Adjutant General for the State of New Mexico, said the guardsmen will undergo classroom training in Santa Fe before serving in Albuquerque. He said the members all volunteered for the mission.
“At the direction of the Governor, we are eager to work with our law enforcement partners in Albuquerque as part of a collective effort to make the community safer,” Aguilar said. “The National Guard has experience supporting New Mexico’s law enforcement agencies, and we’re working hard to get our soldiers and airmen trained for this important mission. Our assistance to APD will enable a larger, steady law enforcement presence that makes a lasting and positive difference in the community.”
Medina said the National Guard troops will allow police officers to focus on fighting crime and keeping the city safe.
“Their support in areas like scene security and prisoner transport … will help our officers respond quicker to critical incidents and build on the progress we’ve made,” Medina said.