Local News

The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) in Artesia continues to expand.

The FLETC began its new mixed basic training program on Oct. 8, 2002 and announced Wednesday that it will add more than 1,200 acres of land to its campus.

The mixed basic program is the first of its kind in Artesia, although the Glynco campus has successfully conducted one for a number of years.

Terry Todd, program manager at the FLETC, explained that the mixed basic police training program (MBPTP) fits a unique need in the approximately 76 different federal law enforcement agencies in the United States.

What makes this program different is that the FLETC is not training just one specific department of law enforcement such as the Border Patrol; it is training several people from different departments.

This program allows 12 different agencies, such as the Department of Defense, to send just a few students at a time. Class sizes are set at 48 students and the FLETC will run ten classes this year.

The program runs for 47 days and the FLETC expects to see at least three classes overlapping within the year because the classes start every five weeks.

Other agencies sending students include the U.S. Bureau of Engraving and Printing, the Library of Congress Police, the Secret Service Uniform Division, and the Federal Protective Services.

Many of the students are college graduates and some are former members of local law enforcement that have retired or want to make a career change.

Some of the training the students receive involves crime scene investigation, verbal judo, handcuffing, defensive tactics and driver’s training.

During a verbal judo class, students learn to keep control of the situation without losing control. In other words, dealing with people that may not be compliant without using physical force.

The driving program allows students to have first hand experience in all types of driving situations. They are trained in three areas; emergency response, skid control and nonemergency vehicle operations, known as N.E.V.O.

When asked why an officer needs N.E.V.O., Todd explained that in a patrol car, there are many distractions and, unless trained to handle the situation, officers can make many minor mistakes leading to vehicle damage.

Todd hopes that these students learn how to survive their law enforcement careers with the education they receive. Being a former state police officer, Todd understands the dangers that face law enforcement personnel on a daily basis.

In addition, it is the goal of the FLETC to give students the tools they need to meet requirements of employing agencies.

Even though the program is not agency specific, it does meet the establish criteria. And, curriculum conferences are established every two years so that agencies can specify their training needs.

In addition, students that graduate from the FLETC training will go back for further training with the employing agency.

This program has specific guidelines and students are evaluated two ways, written and practical exercises. If a student fails to pass a practical exercise by applying what he knows, he is given only one chance at remediation.

When asked about the new students, Todd said, "They’re hungry to learn, attentive and great to work with."

He has no reservations about the program. In fact, he would like to see the facility used to its maximum space. With the new addition of dorms, the FLETC in Artesia can handle up to 683 single occupancy students.

The mixed basic program at the FLETC marks only part of the expansion that continues on the Artesia campus.

In addition, the Bureau of Land Management will be transferring 1,290 acres of land, north of the Artesia Municipal Airport, to the FLETC, increasing the center’s land holdings to 2,320 acres.

Woody Wright, acting office director, commented in a press release, "With this additional land, the FLETC will be able to provide both handgun and rifle training, using ammunitions with longer firing distances.

"The larger safety zones will be contained by a 7.5 mile, barbed wire fence. Fence construction would take place outside the general migratory bird nesting seasons."

This transfer of land benefits the New Mexico Public Schools as well as the FLETC. The exchange involves the fair market value of 640 acres of federal land for land of equal value near the FLETC.