Los Alamos Police Ofc. Jason Osborn, right, is congratulated by Cmdr. Daniel Roberts following Osborn’s graduation from the New Mexico Basic Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe. Courtesy photo
BY MAIRE O’NEILL
maire@losalamosreporter.com
Los Alamos Police Officer Jason Osborn graduated this week with from the New Mexico Basic Law Enforcement Academy as part of Class 206, the largest class of law enforcement in state history. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham presided over the ceremony for 61 police cadets representing 30 city, county, tribal, university and state agencies. There are some 6,000 certified law enforcement officers in the New Mexico.
The governor told the graduates that the role that law enforcement plays in New Mexico communities cannot be understated, and that graduating the largest class in state history will positively impact public safety across the state.
“This also demonstrates to me the efficacy of any number of programs, funding and initiatives the state is providing to law enforcement, including to recruit and retain additional officers,” she said.
During the 17-week academy, Osborn’s received 744 hours of specialized training including constitutional policing in accordance with current federal and state case law; de-escalation of force; crisis resolution; dealing with the mentally ill; conflict management; identifying human trafficking in the context of patrol operations; ethics; cultural diversity; officer survival; bomb recognition; gangs and terrorism; and community policing.
“These brave women and men bring great hope to our communities with one job in mind: keeping New Mexico safe. I have enjoyed watching Class 206 grow together. They have limitless potential,” said Sonya K. Chavez, director of the Law Enforcement Academy. “Today marks a new level of achievement for law enforcement recruiting and training in New Mexico. This class represents our progress as a law enforcement community and sets a new standard for bringing forward the best law enforcement officers to serve our communities throughout our state.”
In Fiscal Year 2023, the Santa Fe Academy, which is one of nine in the state, graduated 118 certified police officers and 85 police telecommunicators, also known as dispatchers.