104 Lawmakers Back $55 Million Bid to Fund Regional Crime Intelligence Network

U.S. Rep. Gabe Vasquez (NM-02) led a bipartisan letter, joined by 104 lawmakers from both sides of the aisle, to the House Appropriations Committee requesting $55 million in funding for the Regional Information Sharing Systems (RISS) Program.

RISS program funds are utilized by 94 law enforcement agencies across New Mexico to arrest violent criminals, get illegal drugs off the streets, resolve criminal investigations, and ensure officer and public safety. The push for federal dollars arrives as local departments across northern New Mexico, including smaller agencies in Los Alamos County, continue to operate with limited investigative resources.

"For many local law enforcement agencies in New Mexico, especially in our rural communities and smaller towns, RISS funds make the difference between solving a crime or a criminal walking free," Vasquez said. "From Cibola County, where sheriffs used RISS to apprehend a serial burglar, to Los Lunas, where the Police Department used RISS to provide detective training, this program is a direct investment in making New Mexico safer."

The financial case for the program is striking. Over the last ten years, officers leveraging RISS services have arrested more than 21,000 offenders and reported more than $2.3 billion in narcotics, property, and currency seizures, a 500% return on federal investment.

RISS provides local law enforcement with investigative assistance, case support, and training on relevant topics such as human trafficking and mental health issues. The program supports efforts against organized and violent crime, gang activity, drug activity, terrorism and violent extremism, human trafficking, identity theft, cybercrime, and cryptocurrency fraud. Nationally, RISS supports the investigative and prosecution efforts of more than 10,600 member agencies in all 50 states, the District of Columbia, U.S. territories, Canada, England, and New Zealand.

New Mexico's top law enforcement official added his voice to the push. Chief Steven Hebbe, President of the New Mexico Association of Chiefs of Police, said: "RISS is a nationwide program that assists law enforcement in many ways, from forensic investigations to deconfliction to ensure officer safety. The impact on smaller agencies across the country, which lack the resources complex cases demand, has resulted in solving many serious cases and delivering justice to victims. RISS is a program that deserves to be spotlighted for its success, at low cost, in aiding law enforcement and enhancing public safety."

Vasquez has supported over $9 billion for state and local law enforcement, ensuring agencies have the resources needed to combat cartels and support crime victims. Recent grants he secured include $1.06 million for the Albuquerque Police Department to deploy public safety video infrastructure across the city by integrating new cameras with the "Real Time Crime Center" to strengthen crime prevention, intervention speeds, and investigation efforts.

The RISS letter now goes before the House Appropriations Committee, where members will weigh the request against competing federal priorities. Congress appropriates funds each year for RISS, with the Bureau of Justice Assistance within the Office of Justice Programs at the U.S. Department of Justice administering the program. Whether the $55 million bid clears the committee will have direct consequences for the 94 agencies in New Mexico counting on the network to do their jobs.