13 cadets graduate from Las Cruces Police Academy

LAS CRUCES - The Las Cruces Police Department graduated 13 police cadets Friday, Sept. 18 from its state-certified law enforcement training academy.

Because of the public health emergency, the 49th Las Cruces Police Academy graduation was limited to a short Zoom presentation and 13 separate badge-pinning ceremonies — one for each new graduate. To remain in compliance with current orders from the New Mexico Department of Health, each cadet was permitted to have up to four relatives present during their individual badge-pinning.

The badges were pinned Friday at the East Mesa Public Safety Complex.

The police cadets who graduated are Jaime Badillo, James Borden, Edwin Castaneda, Luis Duarte, Jacob Figueroa, Luis Heredia, David Keyson, Dalton Kinney, Jesus Rodriguez, Diego Salazar, Matthew Torres, David Udero and Christian Vitale.

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The police department reports all 13 graduates completed rigorous training exercises and passed comprehensive state exams that made them eligible for their New Mexico peace officer certification. The education LCPD cadets receive exceeds requirements established by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.

LCPD’s Academy provides more than 1,000 hours of law enforcement education and training. The bulk of the academy, roughly 75% of it, is classroom instruction while the remaining 25% consists of field training in and around Las Cruces. Each graduate will now be assigned to an experienced field training officer who guides them on an additional 16 weeks of instruction before becoming a patrol officer.