SANTA FE — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced the graduation of the largest class of law enforcement in state history Nov. 21. The police officers represented 30 city, county, tribal, university and state agencies.

The 61 police cadets received their New Mexico police officer’s certification and were administered the oath of office, completing their transformation from everyday citizen to law enforcement officer. Lujan Grisham and other officials welcomed the new officers into a larger family of about 6,000 certified New Mexico police officers.

"The role that law enforcement plays in our communities cannot be understated, and graduating the largest class in state history will...

Three people with outstanding warrants were arrested

New Mexico State Police officers conducted an operation at the Wal-Mart in Gallup Nov. 3 aimed at preventing retail crime and holding those who are engaged in shoplifting and other retail crimes accountable.

During the operation, State Police officers identified eight individuals engaged in shoplifting.   Three of them were found to be wanted criminals with felony warrants.

Katerri Vigil, 25, of Pinehill, was arrested for shoplifting (under $250) and had an active felony arrest warrant for seven counts of aggravated assault/domestic violence, aggravated fleeing a law enforcement officer, reckless driving,  and two counts of...

Featured DWI

Shayna Nez

Nov. 11, 2:40 pm

Aggravated DWI (Third)

A Tohatchi woman, Shayna Nez, 31, was sought for a public indecency call and eventually arrested and charged with her third DWI.

McKinley County Sheriff’s Deputy Jacob Valle was dispatched to the Gallup Flea Market at 120 Hwy. 608 after Metro Dispatch advised of the suspect driving a gray SUV. Valle arrived at the scene and drove past a gray Buick Encore with a matching license plate in the parking lot.

Valle pulled behind the vehicle after it parked and met the driver, Nez. She stated she was driving from “down the road” back to her home in Tohatchi. While speaking to her, Valle reportedly observed...

Suspect facing criminal charges after contacting police

A woman who claims she was forced to drive a stolen vehicle is now facing criminal charges.

On Nov. 2, around 6:45 am, Gallup Police Officer Vincent Thompson was on duty when a woman, who was later identified as Keri McCray,  flagged him down outside the Love’s gas station at 3380 W. Hwy. 66. McCray, 23, told Thompson she was trying to find her sister, who she had last seen walking eastbound after getting off a Greyhound bus.

Thompson and Officer Jerald Watchman were handling another call at the time, so they told McCray they would come back to assist her. While they were dealing with the other situation, the manager of the U...