Solving crime and tackling gun violence
Dear Friend,
When it comes to crime, my focus is on preventing what we can and solving it when we can’t. Yesterday, I visited with the Las Cruces Police Department to highlight recent funding I’ve secured for law enforcement to tackle gun violence, solve crimes, and hold criminals accountable in Southern New Mexico.
VIDEO: Senator Martin Heinrich joined Las Cruces Police Department to highlight funding he secured for a new ballistics testing machine, known as National Integrated Ballistics Information Network machines, for Las Cruces on Tuesday, KFOX14/CBS4, October 22, 2024.
This includes a new ballistics testing machine, known as a National Integrated Ballistics Information Network (NIBIN) machine, for Las Cruces. Earlier this year, I secured $1 million through the Appropriations process to acquire four new NIBIN machines – one for each of Las Cruces, Farmington, Gallup, and Roswell. Currently, there are only four NIBIN machines in New Mexico total: two in Albuquerque, one in Santa Fe, and one on loan in Las Cruces, which I visited yesterday.
The new ballistics testing machines that we’re strategically deploying all across New Mexico will make a real difference in helping to solve violent crime throughout our state, allowing law enforcement to gather quality evidence to trace firearms used in crimes and hold criminals accountable, all while saving officers valuable time and resources.
PHOTO: U.S. Senator Martin Heinrich visits with the Las Cruces Police Department to discuss funding he’s secured for a new NIBIN machine in Las Cruces, October 22, 2024.
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.
I will continue to deliver investments to support and better equip our law enforcement with the tools needed to keep New Mexicans safe.
Sincerely,
MARTIN HEINRICH
United States Senator
