Two-day event brought together officers, families of missing persons
SANTA FE – The New Mexico Department of Public Safety (DPS) brought together law enforcement officers and families of missing persons for two days of training and support services in November.
On Friday, Nov. 21, officers from across New Mexico attended eight hours of missing persons training at the Law Enforcement Academy. The New Mexico Missing Persons Clearinghouse, U.S. Marshals, FBI, and New Mexico State Police led sessions on evidence collection, interviews, interagency collaboration, and alert activation for both active and cold cases.
The following day, the department's Law Enforcement Records Bureau hosted "Missing in New Mexico" Day at the academy. Families of missing persons connected with law enforcement, criminal justice partners, civil agencies, and service providers for case updates and resources.
Services included DNA collection by Albuquerque's Combined DNA Index System for comparison against unidentified remains, plus support from the Office of Medical Investigator, the Indian Affairs Department, the Department of Health and the Behavioral Health Services and Income Support Divisions of the Health Care Authority.
"We were proud to provide this crucial training for law enforcement personnel from all around the state and support New Mexicans with missing family members with these services," said DPS Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna.
