New Mexico Secures $5.4 Million in Federal Funding for Public Safety Projects
According to govtech, Thirteen public safety projects across New Mexico are receiving a total of $5.4 million in federal funding, with Santa Fe securing more than a quarter of the allocation. The funds, approved by Congress in March as part of an appropriations bill and recently disbursed by the U.S. Department of Justice, aim to enhance various public safety initiatives, including programs addressing mental health crises.
Among the significant appropriations, Santa Fe will benefit from $300,000 for the city’s Mobile Integrated Health Office. This funding, requested by U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich, will be used to purchase a specialty vehicle for the city’s Alternative Response Unit, which is managed by the fire department. The unit responds to mental health emergencies and similar situations, providing an alternative to traditional police responses. Assistant Fire Chief Sten Johnson noted that the new vehicle would offer a climate-controlled space for client interactions, as well as updated mobile equipment for case managers.
Additionally, $339,000 has been allocated to Santa Fe County’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program, which offers mobile case management services to individuals struggling with addiction and mental health issues. This funding, requested by U.S. Senator Ben Ray Luján, will support the continuation and expansion of the program, including the addition of a contract case manager to handle increased referrals.
The largest single appropriation—$1.15 million—will be used to purchase machines for capturing three-dimensional images of bullet casings. These machines will be installed in law enforcement offices in Farmington, Gallup, Las Cruces, and Roswell. The data collected will be added to the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), helping track guns used in crimes. The state Department of Justice’s Crime Gun Intelligence Center will utilize this data to share real-time investigative leads, strengthen prosecutions, and identify patterns of gun crimes and trafficking across jurisdictions.
Another significant appropriation is $963,000 for the CASA Program Crime Victim Trauma Intervention Project in Chaves County, requested by Senator Luján and U.S. Representative Teresa Leger Fernández. The funds will support the Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) program in aiding abused and neglected children.
State congressional representatives praised the disbursement of these funds. “I fought for these investments to keep New Mexicans safe, help law enforcement hold dangerous criminals accountable, deliver justice and support for survivors, and make would-be criminals think twice before hurting their communities,” Senator Heinrich stated.
The funds represent a critical investment in public safety and mental health services across New Mexico, with the goal of creating safer communities and more effective law enforcement operations.
