State of New Mexico
House of Representatives
Ben Lujan, Speaker of the House
Ken Martinez, House Majority Leader
Sheryl Williams Stapleton, House Majority Whip

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release                                            Contact: Bailey Sachs 505-261-2419
Feb. 8, 2010                                                                                     

Rep. Cote's Bill on Domestic Violence Offenders in Law Enforcement Passes the House

Santa Fe, NM - Today the House passed HB17, introduced by Rep. Nathan Cote (D-Las Cruces), by a vote of 48-19. The bill would prohibit domestic violence offenders from becoming law enforcement officers within three years of a violation. House Bill 17 also states that a law enforcement officer may lose certification for committing a domestic violence offense.

Rep. Cote says, "This bill brings the New Mexico Law Enforcement Act into compliance with federal law and expands on the law to include violence on all household members, including aggravated stalking and damage of property. Right now if a police officer is convicted of domestic violence, they're not allowed to carry a gun or serve as a policeman for a three-year period. This is a progressive step in fighting domestic violence in this state, yet it acknowledges law enforcement as first responders and the difficult job they do have in carrying out their duties."

HB17 adds domestic violence to the list of felony charges, which include aggravated assault, theft, DWI, and controlled substances, that a person applying to work as a law enforcement officer may not have committed within a three-year period prior to application.