Local officer graduates

Tucumcari Police officer Daniel J. Lopez was among 45 cadets who graduated from New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy during a ceremony Wednesday in Santa Fe.

The cadets completed 677 hours of standardized basic police officer coursework, according to a news release. The 16-week course included completing hundreds of push-ups, sit-ups, flutter kicks, mountain climbers and other calisthenics.

The curriculum included constitutional policing in accordance with current federal and state law; de-escalation of force; crisis resolution; dealing with the mentally ill; conflict management; identifying human trafficking; ethics; cultural diversity; officer survival; bomb recognition; gangs and terrorism; and patrolling in the community.