The Las Cruces Police Department's 54th Academy has graduated six new cadets, all poised to embark on their law enforcement careers. This past Friday, the department announced that the graduates completed a rigorous 24-week training program, priming them to serve and protect the community. According to the City of Las Cruces, among the graduates are Vincent Montoya, Viridiana Porras, Juan Prieto, Alan Ramirez, Eric Reynolds, and Jannette Soto.
Montoya is set to join the force at New Mexico State University Police Department. The other five graduates will begin the next chapter of their training as officer trainees at LCPD. This additional 14-week training module will see the rookies learn the ropes under the tutelage of seasoned field training officers, across three different patrol shifts
All cadets have emerged from an intensive process, having undergone 1,164 accredited hours of law enforcement education and training, this figure surpasses the mandatory criteria set by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. The LCPD Academy strikes a balance in its curriculum, approximately 60 percent of which is classroom instruction, and the rest, is practical field training within Las Cruces. The comprehensive nature of the course is designed to ensure that fledgling officers are well-equipped for the multifaceted demands of law enforcement.
A hallmark of their accomplishment at the academy, each cadet successfully navigated through comprehensive exams, thereby becoming eligible for the New Mexico peace officer certification. Their transition into the force signifies not just a personal milestone for these six individuals but also a commitment to serve a community that expects diligence, integrity, and resilience from its peacekeepers.
