ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – An unprecedented mission for New Mexico’s National Guard will have them helping fight crime on East Central this month. So, how are the volunteers feeling about something that’s never been done before?
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Some of those guardsmen and women told KRQE News 13 that they have a feeling that they’ll be helping out the community by working alongside the Albuquerque Police Department for what’s being called Operation Zia Shield. “It’s drastically gotten worse,” said Kayla Chavez, New Mexico National Guard.
That feeling of crime is what Albuquerque native and National Guard staff sergeant Kayla Chavez says helped fuel her decision to join Operation Zia Shield. The first-of-its-kind mission will put National Guard members on city streets helping APD starting this month.
“We come to the point where we need to help and we need to stop before it gets progressively worse and continue expanding in any way of our community,” said Ssgt. Chavez.
More than 100 guard members volunteered, and now, there are 71 National Guard members in training for the mission, which will focus on East Central Ave. 53 of those guardsmen and women taking part, call Albuquerque home. “Like the general said, these are citizens of Albuquerque that are going out there and help cleaning up the community,” said Chief Harold Medina with Albuquerque Police Department.
APD said the National Guard will do work similar to what Police Service Aides do, like helping watch crime scenes and direct traffic. They’ll also use drones and help tag evidence, with full deployment expected by the end of the month. APD and the National Guard sayid the goal is to free up police officers so they can go to the next call quicker. “They will not be doing an arrest. They will not be taking traffic accidents, police service aides do that. But we will not task them with that for now. They also, for now, will not be guarding prisoners,” said Chief Medina.
In the lead-up, they’re getting nearly 40 days of training. “I can assure you that the training provided aligns with or exceeds NM standards and is grounded with practices used by law enforcement statewide and nationwide,” said Chief Troy Weisler, New Mexico State Police.
National Guard members received defense training from New Mexico State Police. “Our specific role was to prepare the National Guard personnel in defensive tactics skills for self-protection and the safe control, restraint of individuals. While we hope that these tactics are never required, readiness is essential,” said Chief Weisler.
Guard members will also carry pepper spray for self-defense and Narcan to aid with overdoses.
National Guard members are also learning de-escalation tactics. “This definitely involves a lot more training, but as we have seen in the Hermit Peak Calf Canyon Fire, we have worked with law enforcement for most of these situations, so it’s nothing really new,” said Ssgt. Alfonso Deocampo, Bosque Farms, NM National Guard.
KRQE News 13 asked Chief Medina how he plans on gauging if the operation is successful. The chief said he’s hoping that by October, or about five months into the operation, the police department will be able to see if crime rates have dropped on East Central.
APD Chief Medina said Wednesday he’d like to see the guard help out for at least a year.
When the governor authorized the mission last month, she too endorsed a longer operation between six months to a year.
The full operation, which will focus on east Central, is set to hit the ground by Memorial Day weekend. As soon as next week, a few guardsmen will start deploying to help with drone operations.
