New Mexico Department of Public Safety partners with CNM to develop cutting-edge legal training for police officers

Officers attending New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy will complete required criminal and civil legal training with a newly developed curriculum featuring modernized learning techniques

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety and several Central New Mexico Community College entities have partnered to create a new legal training program aimed to equip police officers with a better understanding of current applications of both criminal and civil law as they serve their communities across the state.

The Department of Public Safety partnered with CNM's School of Health, Wellness and Public Safety, Department of Innovation and Instructional Support, and CNM Ingenuity to develop the new 68-hour learning block legal training program focused on criminal and civil law applications that will be part of the 700-plus hours of classroom and practical training required of police officers.

The training for all law enforcement agencies statewide is held at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy (which falls under the Department of Public Safety).

"We are moving the needle forward by embracing modern technology with this new academic platform and our overall instruction at the academy," said Department of Public Safety Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna. "We are pleased with the dedication and support we have received from CNM and CNM Ingenuity to bring this next iteration of law enforcement training to life. This will help our officers gain a deep understanding of the most current applications of the law so they can better serve communities across the state of New Mexico."

New Mexico Department of Public Safety Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna.

"CNM is proud to partner with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety to strengthen the legal training of law enforcement officers who serve communities across our state," said CNM President Tracy Hartzler. "At CNM, we're committed to providing employers and our communities with timely, high-quality training that builds a stronger and more skilled workforce. By collaborating on this updated legal curriculum, we're helping ensure that police officers across the state gain the critical knowledge they need to maximize their ability to protect and serve New Mexicans."

In the course block, new and seasoned officers will learn about New Mexico-specific criminal and civil laws in areas ranging from authority and jurisdiction and laws of arrest, to hate crimes and juvenile law.

The legal training portion of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy has always been a requirement but needed to be refreshed because of the rapidly changing nature of laws and legal processes. Refreshing this curriculum was not only critical to the success of the program, but will also impact the entire state, as officers will gain a deeper and more well-rounded understanding of the law once they graduate. With the help of CNM's Innovation and Instructional Support team and the current Law Enforcement Academy instructors, the course work was reimagined in a way that focuses on comprehension and retention of complex legal concepts.

"This was an exciting and unique project for my team that forced them to think outside of the box," says Christine Goshorn, Executive Director of CNM's Innovation and Instructional Support division. "The purpose of this training is to ensure officers understand the nuances of the law, and that requires quite a bit of repetition. While the exercises ask about the same concept three or four times, it's delivered to students in several ways, including hands-on and interactive exercises. This makes learning more engaging and meaningful for the officers, which ultimately leads to increased retention."

Once the curriculum was developed, CNM Ingenuity stepped in to facilitate the training and provide the necessary funding for officers.

"The purpose of CNM Ingenuity is to meet workforce needs, and that's exactly what this partnership with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety does," says Sebastian Martinez, Director of Business Development for CNM Ingenuity. "Adding this course to our catalog made perfect sense because we have the funding and other resources to help meet a growing demand in the workforce, all of which is well within our mission and showcases our commitment to meeting learners where they are in their academic or professional journey."

Ingenuity also ensured the enrollment process was as streamlined as possible. When officers register for the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, or any other refresher training through the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, they simultaneously enroll at CNM Ingenuity and receive the funding for the legal course block.

The first cohort is set to start in Spring 2026 and the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, as well as CNM and CNM Ingenuity, are looking forward to helping officers improve their understanding of legal applications.

About the New Mexico Department of Public Safety

The New Mexico Department of Public Safety's mission is to provide vital leadership, scientific training, technical, and operational support to the criminal justice community and the public.

About CNM Ingenuity

CNM Ingenuity supports a new approach to learning that delivers accelerated educational and training opportunities in key workforce areas such as technology, energy, and healthcare. It also provides robust support for entrepreneurs and collaborates with public and private partners to promote economic development and job creation.

Since its founding in 2014, CNM Ingenuity has played a key role in strengthening New Mexico's workforce and economy by offering training that is fast, flexible, and aligned with real-world demand.

Story courtesy of CNM in collaboration with the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.