McKinley County DWI Arrests, State Police Checkpoints Logged in Weekly Enforcement Report

A weekly DWI and public-safety roundup published March 13 in the Gallup Sun detailed traffic enforcement actions and arrests across McKinley County, including a notable DWI arrest, compiled from state and local law enforcement agencies operating throughout the region.

The roundup reflects the work of a multi-agency task force that, according to New Mexico Traffic Safety Division records, logged 1,947 directed patrol hours and conducted 21 checkpoints in federal fiscal year 2022. Those operations produced 134 DWI arrests, 25 open container incidents, 942 speeding citations, and 192 uninsured cases, along with misdemeanor and drug arrests and fugitives apprehended. Increased enforcement also yielded higher citation numbers for seatbelt and child restraint violations, reckless driving, texting, and stolen vehicles.

The McKinley County Sheriff's Department leads the task force, with Gallup Police Department, Zuni Police Department, Ramah/Navajo Police Department, and the Navajo Nation Police Department all listed as member agencies. New Mexico State Police participate under a separate agreement, and their citations and arrests from joint operations are folded into the task force's overall enforcement numbers. Operations extend beyond the Gallup city limits into portions of the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo, with cross-commissioning agreements allowing agencies to conduct checkpoints and directed patrols across those jurisdictions.

In FFY22, the Navajo Nation Police Department did not conduct any task force activities due to the impacts of COVID-19, according to the Traffic Safety Division report.

The task force is funded through both federal and state dollars, which cover a full-time coordinator responsible for developing and managing the operational plan, as well as a full-time officer dedicated solely to DWI enforcement. During FFY22, the coordinator also participated in McKinley County DWI/Drug Court planning meetings. Joint checkpoint operations that year included Zuni PD, Gallup PD, New Mexico State Police, the Ramah-Navajo Chapter, and the McKinley County Sheriff's Office.

Beyond roadside enforcement, task force member agencies participate in underage drinking prevention programs including Shoulder Taps, Compliance Checks, and DWI Warrant Roundups. The task force also joins statewide Superblitz operations conducted in McKinley County, covering parts of the Navajo Nation and Zuni Pueblo.