Learning the law
Joint Law Enforcement Training offers look into law enforcement

Breanna Bowens and Kelly Pasqual wrestle during a Junior Officer Law Enforcement Training session at New Mexico State University Grants campus on Tuesday. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Brian Leddy

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Jim Tiffin
Cibola County Bureau

GRANTS — Cadets winced as the pop sounded and sparks flew during a law enforcement Taser demonstration on members of the Junior Law Enforcement Training Academy.

The demonstration was one of several classes presented to high-school-aged students in the fourth consecutive academy held at New Mexico State University-Grants, most of those held for eight days during spring break.

Grants Police Sgt. John Castaneda said the academy allows cadets a glimpse into what law enforcement officers must know and how they go about their jobs. It also serves a dual role as a recruiting tool for a possible law enforcement career.

Oise Etsitty, a junior at Grants High School and in her third year, is the top ranking cadet as lieutenant.

“I am taking this for the high school credit and the three semester hours through the college (NMSU-Grants),” she said. “I was thinking about becoming a K-9 officer, but if that doesn’t work out, maybe a firefighter or an EMT.”

Etsitty said the stress of being the top-ranking cadet was getting to her.

“Everything everyone does bad reflects on me and the other cadets who are sergeants,” she said. “I am not sure I am going to make it through the week this time,” she said. “I get blamed for everything.”

The difference in this year’s academy compared to the first two is that there are more agencies willing to help this year, she said.

There are different classes for the returning students who are given ranks of sergeant or lieutenant, “they are more hands on,” she said.

Etsitty said the stress and physical training in the mornings were the two things that bothered her the most.

“I came three years ago, missed last year and came back this year,” Anthony Kemp, a senior at Grants High in his second year at the academy, said.

“I am going into the Army when I graduate. I want to be infantry,” he said. “When I get out, I want to be a state police officer, but probably not in New Mexico; it’s too dry here.”
Hope Allen, a junior at Grants High School, is in her first year at the academy.

“I just wanted to see what it is like,” she said. “I like to push myself, to the limits and I really like the running. I want to be an EMT so I can help people.”

The classroom instruction is “OK,” Allen said, but she likes the physical training much better.

Kimberly Morrissey, a student in the college’s Correctional Officer Training Academy, was with the cadets from the junior academy because of the demonstrations that were planned.

She was one of those Tased and said it felt like “stinging surges.”

“The good thing is it only lasted a few seconds,” Morrissey added.

Morrissey and other correctional academy students graduate in two weeks and she said she has a job waiting for her at the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility in Grants.

“I feel I can help people in this way,” she said. “I am going to be with them 12 hours a day. I think I can have some kind of affect on them.”

“Rudy Graham (state police) and I — and all the law enforcement agencies and corrections facilities in the area — have worked hard to prepare for this academy this year and to work with the cadets all week,” Castaneda said. “This academy could not be conducted without their help and support.

“The weather has been a little problematic — with cold, wind, some rain and snow — but it has run very smooth and we are pleased with the cadets,” he said.

Agencies working in concert to put on the academy for students include: Grants Police, Cibola County Sheriff’s Department, New Mexico State Police, Western New Mexico Correctional Center, Corrections Centers of America, the New Mexico Women’s Correctional Facility, the 13th Judicial District Attorney’s office and for the first time Grants Fire and Rescue.

The academy began with 39 cadets, one just stopped coming, Castaneda said, “So we have 38 who will graduate.”

The final event of the eight-day academy is graduation Saturday at 5 p.m., at the new Knights of Columbus building on Sakalares Boulevard, followed by a graduation dinner.

To contact reporter Jim Tiffin call (505) 285-4560
or e-mail: jtiffin.independent@yahoo.com.