Six police cadets saluting

The Las Cruces Police Department graduated six cadets from its 54th Academy on Friday, Dec. 20.

The six cadets who graduated are Vincent Montoya, Viridiana Porras, Juan Prieto, Alan Ramirez, Eric Reynolds and Jannette Soto. Montoya will work for the New Mexico State University Police Department while the remaining five will become officer-trainees with the Las Cruces Police Department.

The five LCPD graduates will be assigned to experienced field training officers who guide them for an additional 14 weeks of instruction on all three patrol shifts.

The education and training cadets receive during LCPD’s academy exceeds requirements established by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. LCPD’s state-certified 24-week academy provided 1,164 accredited hours of law enforcement education and training. The bulk of the academy, roughly 60 percent of it, is classroom instruction while the remaining portion consists of field training in and around Las Cruces.

All six cadets passed comprehensive exams that make them eligible for their New Mexico peace officer certification.

The Las Cruces Police Department anticipates beginning its 55th Academy in the spring of 2025. Anyone interested in learning more about the academy is encouraged to visit www.CLCPD.com.

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