Advanced
Training Bureau
It is the mission of the Advanced Training Bureau to provide quality
competency-based training for New Mexico's law enforcement officers.
Competency-based training systems design is a methodology of defining
what is to be taught and how it is to be taught, and of determining the
most effecting media for delivery. The result is a performance-based
curriculum design that guides the development of a total system of training
within the context of a given job or category of position. Training is
provided in areas which comply with the bi-annual mandated requirement
as well as advanced topical areas designed to develop specialized law
enforcement skills.
Training Needs
 To assess the current needs of state and local agencies, DPS conducts
surveys and needs assessments. Subsequently, DPS plans, researches, develops
or contracts with vendors to present training programs to state and local
law enforcement officers; these programs are of an advanced or specialized
nature. Training is delivered at the Law Enforcement Academy and at various
export locations throughout New Mexico. The Advanced Training Bureau
is mandated to generate revenue and this is accomplished through the
charging of tuition to attend courses. Advanced training applications
must be faxed or mailed to the unit two weeks prior to a course in order
to ensure that sufficient numbers of students are enrolled. A training
calendar is disbursed bi-annually to all law enforcement agencies.
Advanced Training Bureau
Staff Information
Scott Blackledge, Bureau Chief/Agent
Scott Blackledge was appointed Bureau Chief for Advanced Training in
December of 2002. Mr. Blackledge has twenty-three years experience in
law enforcement and training, including five years here at the Academy
as a staff instructor from 1990-1995, during which time he was the lead
Firearms and Officer Survival Instructor. Mr. Blackledge accepted a Department
of Justice sub-contract in 1995 and helped establish the Haitian National
Police Academy in Port-au-Prince. He developed a sixteen week police
academy for the National Gendarmerie of Rwanda. He is also an adjunct
instructor for the Department of Energy's Nonproliferation and National
Security Institute.
Erica Esquibel, Registrar
Erica Esquibel has been with the law enforcement academy since 1996.
She began her career in law enforcement in 1991 with the First Judicial
District Attorney’s Office where she was employed as a felony division
secretary. Mrs. Esquibel is a graduate of San Juan Community College
in Farmington, New Mexico.
Brian Coss, Instructor/Agent
Brian Coss joined the team of staff instructors with the Basic Training
Bureau in June of 2001. Mr. Coss has been a Public Safety Professional
for 23 years, beginning his career with the Red River Fire Department,
and then joining the Red River Marshal’s Office in 1982. Mr. Coss
remained with the Fire Department and Marshal’s Office until June
2001. During his tenure in Red River, he attained his NMDPS “Executive” level
Law Enforcement Certification and developed the expertise and training
to obtain 19 Law Enforcement Instructor Certifications. He is also a
New Mexico Registered EMT-I, Fire Cause and Determination Investigator,
Firefighter II and Nationally Certified as an NFPA 101 Inspector. During
his time with the Basic Training Bureau, he attained his “Master” level
Instructor Certification in Defensive Tactics.
Mr. Coss transferred to the Advanced Training Bureau in June 2003, where
he has furthered his expertise and training to attain his “Master” level
Instructor Certification in Emergency Vehicle Operations and has become
a Certified Firearms Instructor. Mr. Coss continues to provide advanced
instruction in a wide area of topics throughout the State of New Mexico.
Additionally, Agent Coss has undertaken the task of re-instating the
NMDPS LEA video training program.
Elliott Guttmann, Attorney & Instructor:
Elliott joined the team of staff instructors at the Advanced Training
Bureau in June of 2005.
Prior to coming to the Law Enforcement Academy, Elliott worked with
the District Attorney's office in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Although he
was a supervisor of several divisions, he is most remembered for his
liaison work with law enforcement. Elliott also volunteered and did legal
instruction at the local police academy for many years.
When he retired in 2004, he was the senior prosecutor in New Mexico
and had done more trials/pleas than any attorney in New Mexico.
In addition to a law degree, Elliott has a Master's degree in Criminology
from Texas. In 1969 he volunteered for the US Army Infantry and served
two years of active duty. After that, he served twenty-five years in
the US Army Reserves. |
