Las Cruces Police Department


The Las Cruces Police Department is the principal law enforcement agency responsible for protecting the City of Las Cruces, New Mexico. LCPD, established in 1928, currently has an authorized strength of 200 officers and 83 civilian positions; LCPD serves a community of over 100,000. The Las Cruces Police Department is the second largest municipal police department in New Mexico.
The department is allotted the following billets:
TitlePositionsInsignia
Chief of Police1
Deputy Chief2
Commander2
Lieutenant6
Sergeant23
Police Officer/Detective157

The current chief of police is Patrick Gallagher.

Equipment

Transportation

The Las Cruces Police uses the following vehicles.
In February 2020, officer Christopher Smelser killed Antonio Valenzuela during an arrest after a traffic stop. Valenzuela ran from police, who attempted to tase him, eventually subduing Valenzuela on the ground. In a video of the incident, Smelser told Valenzuela, "I'm going to fucking choke you out, bro", and Valenzuela was heard gasping for air be heard gasping for air. The autopsy ruled that Valenzuela died of "asphyxia injuries due to physical restraint", with the department's police chief stating that Smelser had used a "vascular neck restraint". The autopsy also stated that methamphetamines consumed by Valenzuela also "significantly" contributed to his death. In June 2020, Smelser was charged with involuntary manslaughter, and the police department wrote a letter of intent to fire Smelser.