25 Cadets to Graduate from LCPD Academy

The Las Cruces Police Department will graduate 25 cadets from its 55^th Academy on Wednesday, Sept. 17.

The 55^th Academy is arguably the most diverse and well-educated class in recent memory. The class includes nine women; eight cadets who have earned a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice, psychology or business administration; two cadets who hold master’s degrees; two who have associate’s degrees; and three who were honorably discharged from the U.S. military. Two of the graduating cadets were police service aides with LCPD prior to enrolling in the academy.

This year’s academy represents the largest graduating class since 2022 when 28 cadets graduated from the 51^st LCPD Academy.

The graduation ceremony will be held at 1 p.m. Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in the Auditorium at the Dona Ana Community College East Mesa Campus, 2800 Sonoma Ranch Blvd. Attendance for the graduation ceremony is limited to the cadets, their families, Las Cruces police officials and invited guests.

All 25 of the graduating cadets will become officer-trainees with the Las Cruces Police Department.

The graduating class includes Brandon Boudreaux, Christian Pritzel Castillo, Karen Chavez, Jesse Crabtree, Ina Monique DeLeon, Owen Houston Gould, Daniel Rodrigo Juarez, David Klein-Kinnick, Caleb Lingle, Elissel Martinez, Andrew Julian Mendoza, Devon Nathaniel Mintz, Keyanna Aylissa Molina, Bryan Morales, Jesus Ignacio Moreno, Anthony Morrow, Rachelle Ozaeta, Brissa Korynna Pages, Brent Lee Peterson, David Pineda, Sarah Renteria, Fernando Estupinan Ruan III, David Tabullo II, Stephanie Talamantes and Elsie Velasco.

The 25 graduates will have completed six-week pre-academy, a 23-week state-certified academy and passed comprehensive exams that make them eligible for their New Mexico peace officer certification. Upon completion of the academy, graduates will be assigned to experienced field training officers who guide them for an additional 17 weeks of instruction on all three patrol shifts.

The education and training that LCPD cadets receive far exceeds the 675-hour requirement established by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety. LCPD’s state-certified academy provides 1,164 accredited hours of law enforcement education and training. The bulk of the academy, roughly 60 percent of it, is classroom instruction while the remaining 40 percent consists of field training in and around Las Cruces.

LCPD is allotted 220 commissioned officers. With the graduation of this academy, LCPD will have 207 officers. The department anticipates beginning its 56^th Academy in January 2026. More information about LCPD’s academy can be found online.