Heinrich Tours to See Upgraded Equipment for Carlsbad Police Department, Receives Briefing on New Mobile Command Center

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Heinrich secured nearly $1 million to support a new Mobile Command Center and new radio and communications equipment that will improve law enforcement operations and emergency response in Eddy County

CARLSBAD, N.M. - U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.), a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, took a tour with the Carlsbad Police Department to hear how nearly $1 million he secured for a forthcoming, new Mobile Command Center and operational, upgraded radio and communications equipment will improve response times and emergency coordination to help law enforcement agencies in Eddy County keep New Mexicans safe.

U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich (D-N.M.) with the Carlsbad Police Department, highlighting planned upgrades to be included in the new Mobile Command Center, and discuss new radio and communications equipment.

"We need to better equip law enforcement with the tools needed to keep New Mexicans safe, and I'm committed to doing that," said Heinrich. "Upgraded technology will make a real difference for the Carlsbad Police Department, improving emergency response throughout Eddy County and helping first responders serve the community. It's delivering investments like these to support our law enforcement officers that make me proud to fight for New Mexico on the Senate Appropriations Committee."

During the visit, Heinrich was briefed by the Carlsbad Police Chief Shane Skinner, Carlsbad Mayor Rick Lopez, and Carlsbad Fire Chief Tony Souza on how investments he secured through his seat on the Appropriations Committee for radio and communications equipment - currently being used by first responders and law enforcement - is keeping New Mexicans safe. Heinrich additionally highlighted funding he secured for a new Mobile Command Center.

Background:

Heinrich secured nearly $1 million through the Fiscal Year 2022 Appropriations process for a new Mobile Command Center and new radio and communications equipment to improve response times and emergency coordination to help first responders in Eddy County keep New Mexicans safe.

In addition to this investment, Heinrich secured $1 million in the FY24 appropriations bill to purchase new National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) ballistics testing machines for law enforcement agencies to use in Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup, and Roswell. These machines will help law enforcement agencies quickly and effectively identify, solve, and prosecute crimes involving firearms.

Prior to this investment, there were only three NIBIN machines in all of New Mexico: two in Albuquerque and one in Santa Fe. The Roswell NIBIN machine will create a much closer option for law enforcement agencies in southeastern New Mexico. The intelligence gathered by all of the new NIBIN machines will go to the New Mexico Attorney General's Crime Gun Intelligence Center where dedicated and trained analysts will use the information to trace and network firearms used in crimes across the state. The Center will then be able to feed that information back to law enforcement agencies to improve identification of suspects and support successful prosecutions.

For a list of Heinrich's actions to support law enforcement and first responders across New Mexico, click here.

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