Peralta — The town of Peralta is considering establishing its first independent police department after years of reliance on an intergovernmental agreement with Bosque Farms for public safety.
During the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the new Peralta park in mid-December, Peralta Mayor Bryan Olguin announced the town’s intentions to create its police force while acknowledging Bosque Farms’ support in the past 16 years.
“Bosque Farms has been a great neighbor to the town of Peralta,” said Olguin. “I mean, they’ve assisted us in numerous ventures and one of them the most important being public safety.”
He jokingly said he announced the plans for a police department prematurely.
“I opened my big mouth at the opening of the park,” he said. “… it was such a great feeling, you know, our first public park. I kind of felt invincible. We can open the park; we can have a police department.”
The town council members have backed this initiative, emphasizing the need for a dedicated police force tailored to Peralta’s evolving needs. Despite the excellent performance of Bosque Farms’ police, Olguin maintains public safety remains a top concern for Peralta’s residents.
However, financial constraints pose a challenge. Nonetheless, the mayor is confident that funding will be secured.
The town of Peralta is in the process of acquiring the 8,000 square feet, former J&L’s Country Kitchen at 2500 Bosque Farms Blvd. This acquisition is part of the town’s plan to establish a community center.
Mayor Olguin envisions this facility could also potentially serve as the headquarters for the police department and allow for future expansion if needed.
To develop its strategy, Peralta is analyzing towns with similar sizes and populations to determine the required staffing levels and operational schedules.
“We don’t have to reinvent the wheel …,” said Olguin. “All the information is out there. We just have to go out there and gather it all together and then see what will work for us.”
Town officials plan to hold public hearings to gather residents’ opinions, displaying its commitment to community involvement. This feedback will help shape the final decision.
“If it’s overwhelming, no, we’re not going to shove this down the residents’ throat, so we’re going to have public hearings and hopefully, people will turn out,” said Olguin.
Jesse Jones lives in Albuquerque with his wife and son. Jesse graduated from of the University of New Mexico twice. This spring, he graduated with a degree in multimedia journalism and, in 2006, he received a bachelor’s degree in university studies with an emphasis in photojournalism. He is a current fellow of the New Mexico Local News Fund.
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April 25, 2024
