Tech Wins Contract To Operate Training Facility

[Editor's note: This press release came from the offices of Rep. Joe Skeen and Sen. Pete Domenici]

Contacts: Selma Sierra / Skeen: (202) 225-6989
Chris Gallegos / Domenici: (202) 224-7098

WASHINGTON, D.C., Oct. 31, 2000 -- Congressman Joe Skeen and U.S. Senator Pete Domenici today announced that the Department of State has awarded a contract to New Mexico Institute of Mining and Technology to establish and operate a new federal international law enforcement training facility in Roswell.

The contract award is the culmination of three years of work by Domenici and Skeen to get the, at times reluctant, State Department to establish an International Law Enforcement Academy (ILEA) at the deBremond National Guard facility at the Roswell Industrial Air Center. New Mexico Tech’s partners in this venture are Eastern New Mexico University-Roswell, Sam Houston University, and the Science Applications International Corporation.

Under an August agreement, the State Department will establish the ILEA in Roswell to train mid-to-senior law enforcement and criminal justice officials from several countries. The Roswell ILEA will train approximately 1,200 students a year, providing courses for foreign law enforcement officials similar to those taught at a typical criminal justice university.

Skeen and Domenici, both members of the House and Senate appropriations committees, respectively, have secured $10 million for the project to date.

"New Mexico Tech’s expertise in counter-terrorism and law enforcement training will guarantee a quality training program for curbing international criminal activities," Skeen said. "It’s vital that we have a facility that will complement international efforts to fight crime in the U.S. and around the world. President Dan López and Vice President Van Romero have done an excellent job in enhancing the university’s reputation as one of the leading scientific and technological institutions in the world. I look forward to a very productive and successful training program in Roswell. I share the city’s enthusiasm for welcoming this new project and I’m pleased to have played a major role in securing the program for New Mexico."

"This is excellent news for Roswell, New Mexico Tech and ENMU-R," Domenici said. "I hope that the contract award will mean that work will begin post-haste in establishing the ILEA in Roswell so that training can begin as soon as possible. I think this new facet of activity for the Roswell Industrial Air Center will be good for the area. Finally, I appreciate Joe Skeen’s tenacity in working with me to convince the State Department that Roswell will be an excellent host for the ILEA."

During the past 10 years, many nations have seen a significant increase in terrorist threats, particularly those organized and financed by criminal and drug trafficking organizations. The ILEA program will assist law enforcement officers from throughout the world in addressing such serious criminal activities through a broad-based curriculum as implemented by the U.S. criminal justice model.

The ILEA program, which is expected to have an annual $5 million budget, will offer courses similar to those provided at a typical university. Topics will include police organization and administration, urban and family violence prevention, civil disobedience and dissent, and psychology of criminal behavior.