Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Luna County Sheriff's Department and the Española Police Department have been awarded funding through the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act.

"The funding awarded today will create jobs while helping keep communities safe by providing additional support to their local law enforcement agencies," Bingaman said.

"The importance of combating the epidemic of drug trafficking and drug related crimes in Rio Arriba County and implementing measures on our southern border to prevent their entry cannot be underscored enough," said Udall. "I am pleased these grants will be used to create new law enforcement jobs to help keep our citizens safe in their communities."

Luna County - $225,000: The Luna County Sheriff's Department will use the funding to provide two field deputy positions to combat border-related criminal activity, such as drug smuggling. These positions will allow the Luna County Sheriff's Department to effectively plan, manage and utilize resources to reduce criminal activity along the Southern border of the United States.

City of Española - $198,361: The Espanola Police Department will use the funding to hire and train full time Special Weapons and Tactics (S.W.A.T.) Narcotics Enforcement Officers. The additional position will allow the police department to enhance its ability to identify drug trafficking organizations, gather intelligence on drug trafficking throughout the city, detect and apprehend drug traffickers, reduce drug related crime, and be readily available for tactical operations that may arise.