Critical Incident Response Training Bureau

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The Critical Incident Response Training Bureau provides New Mexico's public safety response agencies with a training curriculum that emphasizes a coordinated response effort in all emergency situations. We assist agencies by offering a balanced training program designed to overcome the command, communication and coordination problems that commonly occur between agencies when responding to emergency situations. In addition, we provide a certification program for Public Safety Telecommunicators that adheres to established certification requirements. We also assist the Basic and Advanced training programs as needed. We enthusiastically train and educate for the purpose of professional career development.

Critical Incident Response / Public Safety Telecommunicator Academy Staff Information

Mark Christopher, Bureau Chief

Born and raised in Denver, Colorado, Mark graduated from High School in 1973 and later attended the University of Northern Colorado in Greeley. In January of 1977 he moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico to attend the College of Santa Fe where he majored in Physical Education and Theatre.

Mark began his career with the State in 1984 when he was appointed to the Disaster and Recovery branch of the Civil Emergency Preparedness Division, then under the Office of Military Affairs. He became the State's Exercise Training Officer in 1985 and the State Training Officer in 1986 where his primary duty was to manage and coordinate Emergency Management Training courses required by the Federal Emergency Management Agency. In 1987 his office was moved, along with all Emergency Management functions, to the newly created Department of Public Safety.

In 1994 Mark transferred to the Training and Recruiting Division of DPS to work in the Hazardous Materials Unit of the Advanced Training Bureau as a coordinator. In April of 1995 he was named Bureau Chief when the unit evolved into the Critical Incident Response Training Bureau. The CIRT Bureau conducts training statewide in Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, Incident Command Systems and Critical Incident Management. In August of 1996 they were given the responsibility for certifying Police Radio Dispatchers for the Law Enforcement Academy.

Mark has served on several departmental committees and is a former member of the State Safety Board. He currently holds memberships with the New Mexico Sheriff's and Police Association, the National Sheriff's Association, the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (ADLEST), the International Association of Chief's of Police, the American Society of Law Enforcement Trainers (ASLET), the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials-International (APCO), and the National Emergency Number Association (NENA). Mark is a 1999 graduate of Northwestern University's School of Police Staff and Command.

A family man, Mark lives in Santa Fe with his wife of more than twenty years Teena, and teenage daughter Kelli. He enjoys landscaping, gardening and general work around his home. Mark stays active with the St. Michaels High School Alumni Association and is the assistant head coach for the Lady Horseman Varsity Tennis Team. He is a nut for sports of all kinds, an avid golfer and staunch supporter of the Denver Bronco's!

Regis Chavarria – Instructor

Born and raised in Santa Clara Pueblo New Mexico, Regis graduated from the Santa Fe Indian School in1983 and then enlisted in the United States Marine Corp. Regis was honorably discharged in 1988 with numerous awards.   

Regis has been a Public Safety Professional for 19 years. He began his career with the Tribal Police in 1988 as a patrol officer. Regis remained with the Tribal Police until March of 1994. During his tenure with the Tribal Police, he attained his Basic Law Enforcement Certification from FLETC in Marina, Arizona and advanced to the rank of lieutenant.

Meanwhile Regis developed an interest in the fire services, and saw the need for fire protection in his community. He now is one of the founding members of Santa Clara Pueblo Fire Department. His expertise and training has earned him a position on a National Incident Management Team. He has been deployed across the United States countless times. Regis is also a member of New Mexico’s Task Force One, one of twenty-eight Department of Homeland Security Urban Search and Rescue Teams strategically located across the United States. In 2005 Regis was deployed to New Orleans for hurricane Katrina and Houston Texas for hurricane Rita.   

In January of 2007 Regis transferred from the Office of Emergency Management to the Law Enforcement Academy as a staff instructor in the CIRT Bureau. Mr. Chavarria’s primary duties are to coordinate the popular Critical Incident Management Training Program, the Hazardous Materials Training Program and the newly required National Incident Management System’s (NIMS) Incident Command System (ICS).

Regis still lives in Santa Clara Pueblo with his wife of more than fifteen years, Claire. He is the proud father of Galvin, a college sophomore in Colorado, teenage daughter Danielle, and newborn daughter Kiara. Regis stays active with the Santa Clara Pueblo Fire Department and is equipping his Pueblo’s Communications system to be compliant to the P-25 standard.

Instructor (Vacant)

Monique was born in Santa Fe, NM, and moved to Denver, CO. at the age of seven.  She returned to New Mexico four years later and has called Santa Fe home since the age of eleven.  Monique graduated from the SER Academy in July of 2004.

 She began her career at the 1^st Judicial District Court in the Domestic Violence Division in 2003 as a secretary. She left state employment in August of 2005 to deliver her first child and returned to the state in February 2006 with the Department of Public Safety Training and Recruiting Division.  Monique was then promoted and began working for the Critical Incident Response Training Bureau as an Administrative Assistant in December of 2006.

 Monique started her family with her boyfriend Dominic of 5 years. They have 2 beautiful girls, stepdaughter Kayla 8 and Atianna 20 months. In her spare time Monique loves to watch movies and spend time with family and friends!