Only aggravated assaults and animal warnings increased
Silver City -- Crime in Silver City dropped in nearly all categories in 2024, with the exception of aggravated assaults, which rose 12%, and animal citations, which were up just three percent for the year. The biggest drops occurred in the categories of stolen vehicles and robbery, which dropped 41% and 40%, respectively. There were 10,456 calls for service, compared to 11,517 in 2023, representing a nine-percent decline.
Other significant drops in crime include a 33% drop in rape, a 30% decline in burglaries, a 29% drop in simple assaults, and a 24% reduction in tampering with a motor vehicle. Reported domestic disturbances dropped 22%, and reported animal complaints and DWI arrests dropped 20% and 19%, respectively. Criminal damage to property also dropped 13%, and larcenies were down 10% for the year.
Silver City Police Chief Freddie Portillo admitted to being a bit surprised by the data, especially given that the department struggled last year with recruitment and retention of officers, as Chief Portillo and other high-ranking administrators took turns patrolling the streets.
"I checked all of the numbers three times," he said, attributing the good news to proactive policing, and "everyone coming together during a challenging time, and putting the safety and protection of the community first, no matter what."
To fill the vacancies, Town Manager Alex Brown and Chief Portillo worked together with the police officers' union to develop new strategies for recruitment and retention of officers, including higher starting salaries for seasoned officers who've served elsewhere, signing bonuses, and double overtime pay to encourage officers to take on additional shifts. Today the department has just two vacancies.
Chief Portillo explained that recruitment and retention is difficult in today's job market, a challenge facing departments across the country, as evidenced by a 2024 survey conducted by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), which found that more than 70% of respondents were facing recruitment and retention challenges. More than 80% of the 1,158 respondents were from local, municipal police agencies such as SCPD. On average, the survey found that local police departments are operating at approximately 91% of their authorized staffing levels.
In response, about 75% of survey respondents reported making policy and procedural changes to enhance recruitment and retention, such as easing restrictions on tattoos, facial hair and appearance - SCPD's annual "No Shave November" holiday fundraiser for families in need has expanded to December in recent years, for instance.
With regard to officer retention, Chief Portillo said that it's challenging for smaller departments like Silver City to compete with larger departments such as Las Cruces or Albuquerque, and especially New Mexico State Police, which is able to offer higher salaries and perhaps more opportunities for faster career advancement. He recently created a new administrative position - administrative lieutenant - which includes responsibility for recruitment and retention, as well as promoting the department statewide to support those efforts. SCPD veteran Arthur Rascon was recently promoted to that position.
SCPD also participates in the Region VII Border Drug Task Force, officers of which made 146 arrests in 2024, and seized 30,552 fentanyl pills - a 35% increase from 23,045 doses in 2023. Task Force members also recovered 207 pounds of methamphetamine, a 125% increase in total meth seized, compared to 92 pounds in 2023. Fentanyl is one of the deadliest drugs on the street, and was responsible for 65% of overdose deaths in New Mexico in 2023, according to the New Mexico Department of Health, while meth was involved in 51% of overdose deaths in the state during 2023.
Border Drug Task Force Commander Thomas Mora explained that the SCPD is one of six police departments, along with Homeland Security Investigations, working cooperatively in Grant, Luna and Hidalgo counties to identify narcotics organizations, and ultimately arrest those individuals involved in drug trafficking.
"Narcotics are always connected to other crimes such as larceny and robbery, as well as overdoses," he said, adding that he appreciates Chief Portillo because he "understands the connection between drug trafficking and other crimes, and he gives me the resources I need without question. Chief Portillo is a great asset, and is very supportive of the task force. And we need the task force, because our communities are really impacted by narcotics."
Mora also said that he understands people's frustration when they know that drug sales are happening, they report the suspected activity to the police, and nothing seems to happen. "In our line of work people tell us about suspected drug activity, they call us with tips, and tell us of vehicle traffic at all hours, that kind of thing. But what they sometimes forget is that offenders have the same fourth amendment rights that law-abiding citizens have - they are protected from unlawful searches and seizures. As police officers, we have to provide evidence that will stand up in court, and that takes time and resources. It's a very delicate balance between criminal and civil law, while also protecting our departments from tort claims and other liability. It's a real game of chess."
SCPD also continues to conduct undercover operations to identify and arrest persons who solicit children for sex via the internet, as part of the Internet Crimes Against Children, or ICAC Task Force, which resulted in the arrest of three Grant County men in 2024.
And in an effort to keep the public more informed about local policing, Chief Portillo said he plans to share crime data more frequently with the public, thanks in part to the newly upgraded computer-aided dispatch or CAD system, and crime mapping software, a visual mapping tool which digitally records the type of crime and location on the map in real time, highlighting "hot zones" in four distinct districts within town limits. Both tools increase efficiencies, and help administrators more quickly respond to criminal activity, he said. In addition to the many meetings he's had in recent years with advocates for the failed effort to create an ordinance establishing a citizen's advisory group, he is also planning to launch a regular meeting with local residents soon, perhaps as early as May or June.
"I'm looking forward to continuing the department's efforts to meet with citizens to better understand their needs and work cooperatively to continue improving our ability to serve and protect our community," he added. "As always, I have an open-door policy, and invite people to contact me with their questions and concerns."
For more information about SCPD, please contact Freddie Portillo, Silver City Chief of Police, at (575) 538-3723, Ext.1243, or
