New Mexico Bill Would Require School Resource Officers To Receive De-escalation Training

The legislation comes as a response to an incident involving a sheriff’s deputy tasing a special education student last year.

Lawmakers serving on the New Mexico House’s judiciary committee unanimously voted to advance House Bill 184, which would provide funding to train school resource officers in de-escalation techniques and ways to respond to students with mental health issues.

The bill’s sponsor, Democratic Rep. Patricio Ruiloba, a retired police officer, says the funding would help officers learn how to respond to incidents in an educational environment. The state has recently been the site of publicized violent incidents involving school officers and students, according to The Santa Fe New Mexican.

“We’ve had a couple incidents in New Mexico that were really visible in the media that showed the best way not to engage students when they’re in crisis,” Ruiloba told The New Mexican. “It’s a challenge because not only does it cause trauma for the student” and becomes a “huge liability” for the school district and police department, Rulioba added.

One of those incidents took place in May 2019 and involved a sheriff’s deputy tasing a 15-year-old special education student at Española Valley High School.

A body camera video showed former Deputy Jeremy Barnes enter a room where school security staff were questioning the student about a potential drug transaction, eventually leading to a confrontation and Barnes tasing the boy at close range. Barnes tased the boy two more times as another staff member held the boy on the floor.

Barnes is now facing charges of abuse, false imprisonment, aggravated battery and violation of ethical principles of public service, according to The New Mexican. Ruiloba said that the incident has caused officers and school staff to have more “conversations about socio-emotional learning and trauma.”

“Officers now understand the needs in the school community and how to respond in a way that’s more proactive for students,” Ruiloba said.

The funding would come from the state’s Law Enforcement Protection Fund and allocate $1,000 for each full-time, certified police officer or sheriff’s deputy working as a resource officer to receive training. Officers would be required to complete the training within a year of being assigned to a campus, according to the newspaper.

About the Author

Haley Samsel is an Associate Content Editor for the Infrastructure Solutions Group at 1105 Media.

Featured

  • How Emerging Technologies are Transforming the School Security Landscape

    Students can't focus on learning when they're worried about their safety. As education systems nationwide face evolving security challenges with limited resources, a new generation of integrated technology solutions is helping schools create safer environments while maximizing staff efficiency. Read Now

  • How to Harness ALPR for Greater Security Efficiency and Collaboration

    Within higher education campus environments, the demand for greater security, efficiency, and resources is ever-present. Many higher education teams are adopting advanced technologies to secure their campus, streamline operations, and continue to best serve their students and faculty. Automatic license plate recognition (ALPR) technology stands out for its ability to meet a wide range of campus objectives. Read Now

  • Using Emerging Technologies to Address Healthcare Staffing, Workplace Violence Issues

    The healthcare industry consistently adopts new technology to address challenges across all of its sectors. Many of the emerging technologies that are available today are being applied to optimize workflow. To enhance their operational efficiency, hospitals and other healthcare providers typically embrace emergent technologies to streamline tasks in patient care, administration, and, of course, security. Read Now

  • Let's Be Clear: Why Campus Security Cameras Need Regular Maintenance

    Universities invest in security camera systems, expecting them to provide clear, reliable footage to help protect students, faculty, and staff. These cameras are strategically placed across campus—monitoring entryways, dormitories, parking lots, stadiums, bookstores, and common areas—as both a deterrent to crime and a valuable tool in incident investigations. Read Now