Las Cruces at a glance


Population by race and Hispanic origin


Cities in this database with the most similarly-sized populations

Full-time law enforcement staff, Las Cruces Police Department

  • 199 Officers
  • 73 Civilian staff

Full-time law enforcement officers per 1,000 residents

  • 1.73 Las Cruces
  • 1.6 National average, cities with 100,000 to 249,999 population
  • 2.2 National average

These figures reflect the Las Cruces Police Department only, and do not include state or other police agencies that may be present in this location.

Federal grant funding for Las Cruces

Data was last updated July 1, 2024


We identified over $16.3M in federal grant funding, FY 2014-2024

Grant funding over time

Grant funding by federal department

Recent grants

USA spending grants for: Las Cruces
Amount Start and end dates Recipient and description Awarding agency CFDA program Type
$728,476.00 1/1/2024
12/31/2025
CITY OF LAS CRUCES THE HIDTA PROGRAM REDUCES ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLY BY AIDING FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED BY DISMANTLING/DISRUPTING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVES. Executive Office of the President Office of the National Drug Control Policy 95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program Prime
$1,202,075.21 1/1/2023
12/31/2024
CITY OF LAS CRUCES THE HIDTA PROGRAM REDUCES ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLY BY AIDING FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED BY DISMANTLING/DISRUPTING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVES. Executive Office of the President Office of the National Drug Control Policy 95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program Prime
$1,359,950.00 1/1/2022
12/31/2023
CITY OF LAS CRUCES THE HIDTA PROGRAM REDUCES ILLICIT DRUG SUPPLY BY AIDING FEDERAL, STATE, LOCAL AND TRIBAL LAW ENFORCEMENT. PERFORMANCE IS MEASURED BY DISMANTLING/DISRUPTING DRUG TRAFFICKING AND MONEY LAUNDERING ORGANIZATIONS AND IMPROVING EFFECTIVENESS OF THE INITIATIVES. Executive Office of the President Office of the National Drug Control Policy 95.001 High Intensity Drug Trafficking Areas Program Prime
$120,100.00 10/1/2021
9/30/2025
PUBLIC SAFETY, NEW MEXICO DEPARTMENT OF LAS CRUCES, CITY OF Department of Justice Office of Justice Programs 16.738 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program Sub

View all grants

Military equipment transfers

Data last updated July 9, 2024


$1.3K value of military equipment has been transferred to the Las Cruces Police Department

The highest-value stock number reported is RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER with 6 items valued at $138.00 each

Recent equipment transfers

Military equipment transfers
Ship date Item and National Stock Number (NSN) Quantity Acquisition value, each Acquisition value, total DEMIL code DEMIL IC
12/18/2000 RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER
1005-00-589-1271
6 6 @ $138.00 $828.00 D 1
6/22/2000 RIFLE,7.62 MILLIMETER
1005-00-589-1271
4 4 @ $138.00 $552.00 D 1

Local police misconduct data, consent decrees, and settlements

Data last updated January 26, 2022


Settlements

We identified 2 publicly reported settlements that resulted in $6,825,000.00 in monetary compensation to victims.

Settlements
Year Description Outcome
2020

In October 2020, the City of Las Cruces settled a lawsuit concerning excessive use of police force.

Jacob Sanchez sustained heavy injuries when Las Cruces Police Officer Isaiah Baker improperly handled a K-9 unit. The city has agreed to pay Mr. Sanchez nearly $325,000 to settle the suit. This is the third lawsuit concerning misconduct against Officer Baker.

Compensation
$325,000.00
2020

In August 2020, Las Cruces, New Mexico agreed to pay $6.5 million to the family of a Mexican American man who was killed by a police officer.

Antonio Valenzuela, 40, had a warrant out for his arrest for a parole violation. When he encountered Las Cruces officers, he reportedly resisted arrest and fled. Officer Christopher Smelser would later detain Valenzuela and put him in a chokehold. Valenzuela subsequently died from asphyxia injuries. The settlement also establishes new policy changes for Las Cruces police, which will ban all chokeholds and fire any officer that violates this new policy.

Compensation
$6,500,000.00