New law enforcement training program graduates 178 students: Cadets, recruits, lateral officers, telecommunicators, other public safety professionals participate in the program
SANTA FE — An updated and re-designed legal training program for new and veteran New Mexico law enforcement personnel that provides a stronger understanding of New Mexico criminal and civil law while offering more flexible and interactive ways to learn complex legal concepts has already trained 178 learners.
Central New Mexico Community College (CNM), CNM Ingenuity, and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) launched the program just eight months ago, and officials are cheering the results.
Sebastian Martinez, CNM Ingenuity Senior Director of Business Development, sees the early success as proof of concept.
“The results demonstrate both the demand for high-quality public safety training and our ability to deliver a curriculum that meets the needs of a broad range of professionals,” Martinez says. “From law enforcement officers to telecommunicators, the success of each cohort gives us confidence that we’ve built a program that agencies across New Mexico value.”
The 68-hour course at the DPS Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe includes academy cadets/recruits, lateral officers, telecommunicators, and law enforcement professionals seeking certification by waiver.
Retired Judge Sharon D. Walton teaches the legal block at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.
Approximately 15-20 different agencies are represented in each cohort, including the New Mexico State Police, municipal police departments, and sheriff’s offices from across the state.
“The partnership began after the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy identified opportunities to enhance its existing curriculum and instructional approach, particularly within the legal instruction block, and worked collaboratively with CNM to develop a plan,” said New Mexico Department of Public Safety Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna.
CNM’s School of Health, Wellness & Public Safety and Department of Innovation & Instructional Support, along with CNM Ingenuity worked with DPS instructors and legal experts to rebuild the program.
Serna says the refreshed curriculum reflects changes in the law and how officers interact with the communities they serve.
“Today’s cadets and recruits are technologically savvy and learn differently, but the academy’s training methods have not evolved at the same pace,” she said. “Through our partnership with CNM, we are advancing the way instruction is delivered, beginning with the legal block and ultimately expanding across the curriculum.”
Cadets during the new legal block, a part of the Basic Police Officer Training at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe.
The course covers constitutional law, authority and jurisdiction, laws of arrest, hate crimes, and juvenile law. It also uses online modules, interactive activities, and other approaches designed to support different learning styles and improve retention.
Flexibility is built into the course through an integrated learning platform designed to meet the needs of today’s learners, allowing the program to evolve throughout its first eight months. For example, instructors recognized that telecommunicators benefit from a different pace and structure than academy cadets while still requiring a strong understanding of constitutional law and legal procedures and adjusted the course accordingly.
Martinez says CNM and DPS will continue to quickly adapt the curriculum as needs emerge.
“We’re excited to continue expanding training opportunities while integrating new technologies and modern public safety practices. This partnership has the potential to strengthen agencies, support career growth, and better prepare first responders to serve communities across New Mexico,” he said.
State Government Results and Opportunity funding supported curriculum development, course delivery, and additional instructors. CNM provided learning infrastructure and instructional design expertise, while CNM Ingenuity coordinated funding, enrollment, and workforce training support.
The partners plan to continue offering the training while thoughtfully expanding this new approach to instruction and curriculum across other academy training blocks, one topic at a time. They will also explore additional gaps they can address together, particularly for smaller and rural agencies with limited access to innovative training resources.
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