UNM-Gallup leaders advocate for police academy funding at Legislature during Gallup-McKinley Day

UNM‑Gallup leaders traveled to Santa Fe to press a priority for McKinley County at Gallup‑McKinley County Day, using a Roundhouse meeting with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham and other officials to advocate for funding and development of a local police academy.

The University of New Mexico‑Gallup joined a contingent of government and community partners in Santa Fe to celebrate Gallup‑McKinley County Day on Feb. 6 during the 2025 New Mexico Legislature. UNM‑Gallup Chancellor Dr. Sabrina Ezzell and Local Advisory Board Vice Chair Raymond Calderon shared a table with government and community partners during a meeting with Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham at the Roundhouse during the 2025 New Mexico Legislature. Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham showcased the collectible lapel pin shaped like a Diné ceremonial basket she received during a meeting with Gallup and McKinley County officials at the Roundhouse during the 2025 New Mexico Legislature.

At the center of UNM‑Gallup’s advocacy was a push to create a campus-based police academy to address recruitment challenges in rural and tribal-adjacent communities. “The police academy is a top priority for UNM‑Gallup because hiring and recruiting officers is a challenge for all law enforcement agencies these days,” Ezzell said. “We want to create a more convenient pathway for locals to enter the field of law enforcement so they can serve their community working for local agencies like the Gallup Police Department and McKinley County Sheriff’s Office.”

For McKinley County residents, a local academy could reduce barriers to training by keeping tuition, time, and travel burdens closer to home. That local access can matter for public safety and for equity: easier entry into credentialed careers can expand employment opportunities for Gallup and surrounding communities, while potentially improving relationships between officers and the people they serve through homegrown recruitment.

The event also served its traditional role in lifting the region’s culture and history and honoring representatives in the State Senate and House of Representatives. UNM‑Gallup framed its presence as part of a broader partnership with government and community organizations to both celebrate the region and press policy priorities at the Legislature.

Advocacy at the Roundhouse is an early step in a longer budget and policy process. Details such as requested funding levels, program timeline, curriculum, and legislative sponsorship were not announced at the meeting. UNM‑Gallup’s outreach at Gallup‑McKinley County Day signals the campus intends to keep the issue before lawmakers as the session proceeds.

What this means for residents is straightforward: the push for a UNM‑Gallup police academy aims to expand local training and hiring options for law enforcement in Gallup and McKinley County. Watch for follow-up from UNM‑Gallup and your legislators as the legislative session addresses funding decisions that will determine whether this local pathway moves forward.