Española, N.M – As many residents have seen through the media and other local outlets, the City of Española has
seen a spike in property and drug crimes since the holidays, which has led Mayor John Ramon Vigil to reach out to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham for assistance.
In a letter to Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham, Mayor Vigil has requested that the governor dispatch New Mexico State police to assist the Española Police Department with patrols, crime prevention efforts, drug trafficking efforts, and highway traffic safety support within the boundaries of the City of Española until March 2023.
In his letter, Mayor Vigil states “The City of Española’s central location and major arterial roadways have made it a crossroads point for the State of New Mexico, because of this it has invited a large transient population that have established themselves in our community. I believe the assistance of additional State Police officers will assist the department with the resolution of these incidents.”
In a recent interview with the local media regarding his letter Mayor Vigil stated “Because of our limited budgets, municipalities in smaller communities, such as Española are struggling the most due to competition from larger agencies or other regional employers.”
Chief of Police Mizel Garcia has stated that he is hopeful the governor will grant the request, and that his department is ready to work hand in hand with state police to combat these crimes, and ensure that all citizens and visitors to the City of Española are kept safe.