Operation Not in Vain concluded with 250 arrests

The Las Cruces Police Department announced that Operation Not in Vain has concluded its 2025 run.

The LCPD have said the program is in honor of LCPD Officer Jonah Hernandez who was killed while on duty in February of 2024. 

According to a press release from LCPD, the operation ran from late April to late August and resulted in more than 250 arrests and 16 seizures of narcotics. This includes 120 felony arrests and 2,439 fentanyl pills and 75.9 grams of methamphetamine. 

19 firearms were also seized or recovered along with the recovery of 14 stolen vehicles. 

LCPD also reported a 12% reduction in crime in the first half of 2025.

LCPD Police Chief Jeremy Story thanked other agencies like the New Mexico State Police, Doña Ana County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office and many others.

“We’re pleased with the results of this operation and encouraged by the cooperation we received from our local and federal law enforcement partners,” Story said. “We could not have achieved these results without their help.”

The Las Cruces Police Department also announced that the Real-Time Crime Center is now up and operational.

This “state-of-the-art” system allows technicians to give responding officers more information on the situation that they are walking into by being able to see bodycams, subject history, and camera feeds if there is a camera system nearby. 

In a statement, Story said that the tool will help "better prepare our officers who respond to critical incidents within our community.

"It will also give us an advantage in solving crimes, arresting offenders and helping keep our community safe,” he said.

The system cost about $2 million according to the press release and that was paid through local, state and federal funding.