New Mexico Mounted Patrol

Authority and Responsibilities

The New Mexico Mounted Patrol (NMMP) is an unfunded state agency created by New Mexico State Law and staffed by certified volunteer police officers. The Mounted Patrol is not a division of the State Police but is an independent state agency that can be called upon to assist any law enforcement agency and serve anywhere in the state. Mounted Patrol Troopers may be called out by the Governor, the Chief of the State Police, or by any local or county police agency.

Though State Troopers are volunteers, other government agencies have the latitude to compensate troopers for their time and service in certain situations. The Mounted Patrol assists cities, counties, and other state agencies in times of emergencies and special events because these agencies cannot maintain the number of full-time police officers that are needed in these instances.

When on duty, troopers assume the same authority and accept the control of the agency for which they are working for. When requested by other agencies, troopers augment their full time staff and assist these officers in the performance of their duties.

The Mounted Patrol creation and authority to be a New Mexico peace officer is outlined in the Laws of the State of New Mexico and can be found in the Criminal and Traffic Law Manual, (Article 6, New Mexico Mounted Patrol, Sections 29-6-1 to 29-6-6).

New Mexico Mounted Patrol Brochure

Office of Chief
PO BOX 1374
Edgewood, NM 87015