Rebecca Hauschild
For the Artesia Daily Press

A new style of barrier will be used by the Artesia Police Department after city councilors approved a donation of about $546,000 for the project Police Chief Kirk Roberts said was needed as local events get bigger and require improved traffic and crowd control.

Councilors voted at their April 22 meeting to accept the donation from the Greater Artesia Foundation for a modular vehicle barrier system and trailer for police to use for safety during events. The system will take the place of current fencing used by the city.

The new barriers can link together quickly and pivot out of the way easily, Roberts said.

“Events are getting bigger, the car show for example,” he said. “We can open them where we want traffic to flow out and can move them very rapidly.”

Mayor Jon Henry said the improved barrier system will benefit residents attending events in the city, improving safety and the adaptability of stationed security.

“It’s a testament to our city that we have foundations that care about the safety of our citizens. We take it seriously and I know the commander worked hard on figuring this out,” Henry said. “It’s awesome that Artesia is that much further ahead than so many towns our size.”

Roberts also reported the police department was in the process of acquiring new vehicle cameras, body cams, virtual reality equipment and drones. He said police vehicles will be outfitted with new cameras that include automatic license plate readers to compare plates of stolen vehicles and give police an alert if a theft is suspected or if a plate is associated with a missing person report.

“You guys stepped up and are putting us at the forefront of the application of technology,” Roberts said.

He said the new body cameras will be able to translate between English and Spanish in real time, while automatically transcribing recorded interviews. Training was underway for drone piloting and virtual reality components, Roberts said.

“It’s getting more and more complex to bring a case in front of a jury,” Roberts said. “When I started, everything was written by hand. No one had video of anything. Nobody even had tape recorders back then. Now you can hardly get a case heard unless you have a body cam video. If there’s no video, they’re not even going to hear your case.”

Other business

Community Development/Infrastructure Director Byron Landfair reported the city’s annexation has been officially filed and the city now has new official city limits.

In response to concerns about speeding at Jaycee Park, Landfair reported city staff are adding pedestrian crossings, barrels, flashing signs and speed signs.

John Anguiano, facility maintenance supervisor, said the city received conditional approval for a splash pad and anticipates opening it soon after fixing a small issue with a concrete slab. Crews added a fence in the middle of Jaycee Park in all directions, updated the lighting so all are working now and installed a new flagpole at the Senior Center – making that seven flag poles maintained throughout the city. New lighting was installed at every intersection on 26th Street from Ray Avenue through Centre Avenue, completing a four-year project.

Rosemary Braswell, gifted education teacher at Artesia Intermediate School, appeared with four 7th grade students who presented their passion projects:

• Brodie Becker – Cleaning up Artesia

• Conner Summers – Aeronautical engineering

• Brooks Sexton – Pros/cons of electric vs. gas cars

• Santiago Padilla – Helping the homeless

During the Government Committee report Councilor Wade Nelson reported Artesia Clean and Beautiful is asking permission for a mural on three sections of cinder block fence at the Dr. JJ Clarke Park.

The Artesia Library will have several flight-focused events and programs leading up to the National Championship Air Races planned this summer in Roswell. STEM labs on airplanes and rockets and a birthday party for Edgar Mitchell, the sixth man on the moon will be held at the library.

The Artesia Historical Museum & Art Center is considering hosting an exhibit from the Smithsonian Institution for two years. The committee also discussed adding murals at the Artesia Airport that depict air races, and the Artesia Senior Center is making flight-themed quilts.

The Senior Center is planning to repair the parking lot and dance floor with capital outlay money that New Mexico State Sen. Jim Townsend helped secure.