Crackdown in Crownpoint
Navajo Police patrol 5% of state with 29 officers

Navajo Police Officer Joel Lueppe walks along Navajo 9 near Whitehorse to write a speeding citation on December 3rd. — © 2009 Gallup Independent / Adron Gardner

Copyright © 2009
Gallup Independent
By Phil Stake
Staff writer

CROWNPOINT — Crownpoint District is the largest district in the Navajo Nation: 5,700 square miles.That makes patrol approximately 5 percent of New Mexico’s land mass a daunting task for 29 full-time police officers. Crownpoint District commander, Capt. Steve Nelson, said there are three officers assigned to regular patrol for any given shift, but long travel and wait times can keep them from needed traffic and DWI enforcement. That’s why Nelson launched the Selective Enforcement Traffic Program, or STEP Team, Nov. 3. The team consists of four officers, two of whom are paid for by New Mexico grants for DWI enforcement.

“What they’re doing is working in rural areas ... we’re targeting these outlying areas ... everything from domestic violence to bootlegging, drugs, speed enforcement and DWI,” Nelson said. “So far they’ve been averaging about three DWIs every time they go out.”

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