Public Safety

Realtors often work in places that are isolated, and with customers they may not necessarily know, making their occupation somewhat risky and potentially dangerous. September is Realtor Safety Month, so the Las Cruces Police Department is sharing safety tips for realtors and those who work alone in places that may…

In observance of Labor Day, most City of Las Cruces offices will be closed Monday, Sept. 7, 2026. However, all emergency services, including police and fire, will operate as usual. City offices and facilities closed on Labor Day include: City Hall Castaneda Service Center (Parks & Recreation Administration Offices) Las…

Las Cruces firefighters extinguished a fire in a home on Chilton Drive Tuesday evening. Just before 10:30 p.m., Tue. Aug. 25, firefighters responded to a report of a residential structure fire on the 2100 block of Chilton Drive. The first-arriving unit encountered a working fire in the kitchen of the…

Auto burglaries in Las Cruces are down 39 percent in the first seven months of 2026 compared to the same period last year, but police believe more can be done to prevent the crime. Las Cruces police are encouraging drivers to remove or hide valuables, and lock vehicle doors when…

Las Cruces and New Mexico State University police teamed together Wednesday for a traffic safety operation that recorded 155 citations during a three-hour period. Wednesday, Aug. 19, was the first day of classes for the 2026 fall semester at New Mexico State University. Officers from both police departments conducted the…

Las Cruces firefighters responded to a report of a residential structure fire on the 200 block of Three Crosses at 1:34 p.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026. The first arriving unit on scene found heavy fire throughout an abounded mobile home. Initial arriving crews provided suppression, and the fire was…

A Las Cruces man is in custody, and police are continuing to investigate a drive-by shooting that injured a 34-year-old man and his 11-year-old son on Sunday afternoon. Jesus Angel Cortez, 26, was arrested in a separate incident Sunday evening in El Paso. Cortez faces felony charges of shooting at…

Las Cruces firefighters responded to a report of a gas leak on the 3100 block of Missouri at 11:54 a.m. on Friday, August 14, 2026. The first arriving unit on scene found smoke throughout the structure and upgraded it to a residential fire response. Initial arriving crews were able to…

Justin Whitefield, a Las Cruces firefighter for 19 years, has been named Deputy Chief of Operations for the Las Cruces Fire Department. Deputy Chief Whitefield held the interim position of Deputy Chief of Operations for several months and began his new duties August 9, 2026. Whitefield began his career with…

The Las Cruces Police Department will hold a news conference on Aug. 11 to announce results from its successful 2026 three-month Operation Not in Vain that was aided by New Mexico State Police and New Mexico State University Police. The news conference will be held at 11 a.m. Tuesday, Aug….

Keeping impaired drivers off the roadways will be a top priority for Las Cruces police in August. The Las Cruces Police Department will conduct at least two saturation patrols and one sobriety checkpoint within city limits in August 2026. Officers will also be on the lookout for other traffic safety…

The Las Cruces Police Department will graduate 14 cadets from its 56th Academy on Friday. The graduation ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Friday, Aug. 7, 2026, in the Auditorium at the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Seating is limited, so attendance for…

Las Cruces firefighters extinguished a fire in a mobile home on Karen Avenue. Firefighters were dispatched to the fire on the 300 block of Karen Avenue at about 5 a.m. Tuesday, August 4. The first arriving crews reported smoke and fire from the vacant mobile home. Fire crews were able…

A high-speed pursuit and successful PIT maneuver on Friday resulted in the arrest of a man suspected of kidnapping and using a knife to threaten his girlfriend. Jesus Gerardo Moreno Jr., 30, is charged with felony counts of kidnapping, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, aggravated fleeing from a law…

A pedestrian lost his life after being struck by a vehicle Saturday evening on Amador Avenue. Shortly before 10 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026, Las Cruces police were dispatched to the report of a crash near the intersection of Amador Avenue and Esperanza Street. First responders arrived to find a…