News
PRC Approves Electric Co-op's Variance

Biomass Firm Claims Deal

A Forge-Fired Degree

School Year Starts With Buses Rolling Smoothly

'They Took My Life Savings'

Minors Work at DWI Memorial

Saddle Makes All the Difference

Moriarty Discusses New School

Trustee May Step in for Hibbs

Committee Tackles Canyon Traffic

More
News

HOME	CLASSIFIEDS	OBITUARIES	SPORTS	OPINION

Thursday, June 14, 2007

Edgewood Signs Off On Police Dept.

By Lee Ross
Mountain View Telegraph
    The Edgewood Town Council took another step toward its own police force on June 6.
    A resolution that creates an official Edgewood Police Department— in name only at this point— was passed by the town council.
    "The main thing I want to see is a thoroughly professional department that has personnel that aren't leaving," Councilor Chuck Ring said in an interview Friday.
    That doesn't mean the town has a police department, but the resolution outlines a very basic framework for one.
    "This creates the skeleton," Councilor Rita-Loy Simmons said at the meeting.
    Edgewood's measure is based on similar resolution from Jemez Springs.
    Like Jemez Springs, Edgewood also plans to use the New Mexico Mounted Patrol as a police force until its own force is established and operational. The resolution allows NMMP to work under the town of Edgewood.
    NMMP will be used to augment the State Police, which has a joint powers agreement to provide law enforcement service to the town.
    The town has set a goal of having its own police department by late 2008. Even when it has its own police force, it will still be able to use the NMMP when needed, according to Karen Mahalick, Edgewood's community planning and development manager.
    NMMP is a volunteer program, but the town will pay expenses, such as gas.
    With the resolution in place, the town can begin structuring department benefits such as workers' compensation, insurance, retirement and payroll, according to Sgt. Kevin Bruno of the New Mexico State Police.
    "Right now we're still way early (in the process)," Bruno said.
    To aid in that process the town requested proposals in May for a consultant to help with the formation of a police force. The deadline has passed, but the town received no applications.
    The next step is not known at this point, according to Mahalick.
    Meanwhile, local law enforcement officers are anticipating increased traffic issues due to Edgewood road construction.
    N.M. 344 will soon be detoured, and the road work in the area of the Wal-Mart construction site will be ramped up after Cactus Road is improved.
    Improvements are necessary because traffic will have to be re-routed to Cactus Road, which is currently dirt. The detour will be accessed via Church Road and the north frontage road along Interstate 40.
    Improvements to Cactus Road were supposed to begin Monday, but so far no work has been done. The road will be straightened, drainage will be improved and it will be paved with chip-seal.
    "Is it going to be bad? ... Traffic is going to increase," Bruno said.
    He also mentioned a speeding problem along Cactus Road, where the speed limit is 25 miles an hour.
    "We need to slow down," Bruno said.
    He added that he has received complaints of speeding on N.M. 344, Dinkle Road and Church Street in the past and that State Police do respond to those complaints.
    "I want people to know that we are an outlet for them ... all I need to know is where the problems are," Bruno said.