Marshal training questioned

The Village of Magdalena approved Marshal Michael Zamora and Captain Brian Waterman to attend an out-of-state pepper ball and taser training in February.

“Questions, number one, why are we sending them both at the same time? Because there are two certified officers. Number two, why are we sending them to Nevada? There are options in Arizona and in Texas, but you’re closer,” Donna Dawson, Trustee, said.

Mayor Richard Rumpf said they would have 911 and one officer in the village to cover.

“This is where they chose to go. It’s Indian Springs, way outside of Nevada, outside of Las Vegas. So that’s where they chose to do the training,” Rumpf said.

Trustees Jim Nelson, Clark Brown and Michael Thompson voted in favor of the training, and Dawson voted against it.

During public comment, Terri Winchester said she contacted Cass Reed, the Deputy Director of Training of the New Mexico Department of Public Safety, regarding the previous training Zamora and Waterman were approved to go to.

“I explained to her that our officers were going out of state to become federally certified narcotics investigators so they could apply for federal grants. She then explained to me that there is no such thing as a federally certified narcotics investigator.” Winchester said, “While meeting with the mayor on December 9th, I asked to see the grants that required this training or certification. He said he would have one for me at the village meeting later that day. No grants were provided to me at that meeting and here it is a month later and still no grants.”

She said she was concerned the Marshal’s department has misled them so they could go to Las Vegas.

In other business, Village Clerk Juanita Puente confirmed they are now caught up on credit card payments after being nine months behind.

Rumpf reported that a new fire truck has been ordered and is expected to arrive in the next three to four months.

Trustees also approved a three-year contract and upgrade of Tyler Technologies software and approved the job post of a full-time kitchen assistant/ driver position for the senior center.

The next meeting is scheduled for 5 p.m. on January 27.