The University of New Mexico Police Department will no longer be one of the few law enforcement agencies in the state without body-worn cameras.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — The University of New Mexico Police Department will no longer be one of the few law enforcement agencies in the state without body-worn cameras.
“This is something we should do at this time,” said Teresa Costantinidis, the executive vice president of finance and administration for the University of New Mexico. “In April, there was a report and the interview that you did with our police chief to talk about it, and that brought it back to the table.”
4 Investigates revealed an, “oversight,” in the 2020 law requiring body cameras from law enforcement agencies. The law’s definition left out university police departments, exempting them from the requirement.
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UNM Police Chief Joe Silva said, “we didn’t see the need,” when 4 Investigates asked him why not implement body cameras in April.
Most other university police departments in New Mexico voluntarily adopted them.
“There was certainly no thinking that it would be good for university police to not hold themselves to the same standard that all other law enforcement do in the state,” State Sen. Joseph Cervantes told 4 Investigates in April.
Cervantes, who sponsored the 2020 legislation requiring body cameras for law enforcement officers, added he was, “very confident that if UNM doesn’t do this voluntarily in the next few months the legislature is going to compel it of them.”
It wasn’t outside pressure alone that led UNM administration to make a change.
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Costantinidis said the pro-Palestinian protests on campus, and the decision to use police to clear encampments, “did play a role,” in the decision to implement body cameras. In April, UNM officials called in New Mexico State Police to assist UNM PD to clear an encampment in the Student Union Building.
“We don’t often get requests for body cam footage,” Costantinidis said. “In this case, we relied heavily on both surveillance footage and the body cam footage from the New Mexico State Police. But it gave us a moment to say, maybe it [police body cameras] would have been helpful.”
4 Investigates reviewed UNM officers’ audio belt recordings and UNM surveillance video, which does not have audio, the night the SUB was cleared. UNM officials tout the 3,000 surveillance cameras installed around campus as, “essential,” to meet its safety goals on-campus. The surveillance video shows protesters barricading doors, covering some cameras and using chalk on walls and floors. It also shows dozens of NMSP officers, in riot gear, pushing protesters out of the building and arresting people. It also shows what appears to be a UNM officer throwing a punch, and another throwing an elbow at protestor while making an arrest.
4 Investigates found one surveillance camera had missing footage from when police moved in on protestors. A UNM spokesperson said, “No video was deleted. That particular camera appears to have malfunctioned at that time.”
“The decision to do this says that we see body-worn cameras as a useful tool,” Costantindis said. “This is something we want to do in order to promote both safety and trust by the community.”
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UNM has agreed to a five-year contract with Axon to outfit UNM PD with body cameras. It will cost $623,000 for the duration of the contract. UNM PD is also hiring another full-time officer to manage its body camera program.
Western New Mexico University will be the last university to not have its police department wear body cameras.
Tribal and federal law enforcement agencies are not required to wear body cameras.
4 Investigates has requested documentation related to UNM PD’s internal use of force investigation into its officers involved in SUB clearing. UNM has not yet released those documents.
A sign reading “measles testing” is seen as an outbreak in Gaines County, Texas, has raised concerns over its spread to other parts of the state, in Seminole, Texas, on Feb. 25. Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
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Measles cases in Texas and New Mexico rose to 370 today, the states’ health departments said, an increase of 19 infections since their previous reports four days ago, as the United States deals with one of the largest measles outbreaks in the past decade.
Cases in Gaines County, the center of the current measles outbreak in the U.S. that started in late January, rose to 226 from 211 cases, the Texas Department of State Health Services said.
The total from the two states has surpassed last year’s nationwide count of 285 infections, according to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Since March 21, New Mexico has reported one additional case, bringing its total to 43, while Texas reported 18 more cases, totaling 327 in the state.
Most of New Mexico’s cases were reported in Lea County, which is adjacent to Gaines County in Texas.
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In Texas, 325 cases were among people who were unvaccinated or their vaccination status was unknown, up from 307 reported previously. The latest New Mexico case is among the 31 infected individuals from the state who were not vaccinated.
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“It’s going to take time (to control this outbreak), unfortunately, because there are still people who are resistant to receiving a vaccine,” said Tammy Camp, a pediatrician in Texas.
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In a health advisory on March 7, the CDC said that the risk for widespread measles in the U.S. remained low.
Diego Hijano, infectious disease specialist at St. Jude’s Children’s Research Hospital, said he agrees with the CDC’s assessment as a lot of areas still have a high vaccination rate.
U.S. Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., who has for years sown doubts about the safety and efficacy of immunization, said last month he recognizes the serious impact of the current measles outbreak in Texas and that the government is providing resources, including vaccines.
FARGO — Put whatever initials you want on the tournament, it looked like women’s postseason basketball Monday night at Scheels Center. It sounded like it, too.
North Dakota State, like it’s done so often this season, grinded out a second round win over New Mexico State in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament, a 68-65 victory that will have them hosting another one.
It will be almost April and the Bison are still playing.
“Honesty, super grateful for it,” said forward Avery Koenen, who led the way with 17 points and 12 rebounds. “Any chance we get to play together and spend time together every day is something to be thankful for. It’s something not a lot of teams get to experience at this point in the season.”
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North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen goes for a two-pointer against New Mexico State’s Fanta Gazzama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
The Bison will host Washington State at 7 p.m. Thursday in the round of 16 at Scheels Center.
“I’m really happy for our players that they got to experience that tonight,” said NDSU head coach Jory Collins. “Hopefully we get to experience it again. That’s what college basketball is all about. This time of the year you get to watch a game on TV and you want that.”
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Koenen’s two free throws with 38 seconds left gave the Bison a 64-61 lead. With NDSU’s fans that sounded like more than the 1,016 that were there, the Aggies’ Fanta Gassama paid no attention driving to the hoop and it was 64-63 with 15 seconds left.
Abby Krzewinski followed with two free throws, but Gassama responded with a jumper just inside the 3-point arc at 5.1 seconds and it was still a one-point game. Two more free throws from Krzewinski made it a three-point game, but the Aggies, out of time outs and looking confused, opted to go the length of the floor for a layup instead of trying a 3-pointer to tie. That didn’t work either.
“They were super loud,” Koenen said of the Bison crowd. “When you hear that on defense especially, it gives you more momentum.”
North Dakota State’s Abby Krzewinski goes up against New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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NDSU will take win No. 20 into the next round, the second straight season it’s reached that goal.
“Yeah, it’s a big deal,” Collins said. “I think that’s the benchmark that a lot of teams talk about. I was nervous a few weeks ago that it was going to be hard to get there. It’s what we want to become, a normal thing and not a special team. That needs to become the norm here.”
The Bison were off for a week for spring break after the early Summit League tournament exit and then practiced for several days — and it was evident in the first quarter the speed of the game was something they weren’t used to. The Aggies brought quicker players and a full court press to the arena than the Bison practiced against.
“We hadn’t played a basketball game in a hot minute,” Krzewinski said. “I think us picking it back up in the second half showed who we are as a team.”
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Still, NDSU withstood 12 first half turnovers to take a 34-31 halftime lead, getting six players to score between four and seven points. The balance continued in the second half and the Bison maintained their advantage, getting a 9-2 run to take an eight-point lead.
North Dakota State’s Claire Stern goes up against New Mexico State’s Imani Warren (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
Like several Bison games this season, where extending leads wasn’t easy, this was no exception.
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“It wasn’t our cleanest game,” Collins said.
It was 55-51 heading to the final 10 minutes. At that point, the Aggies led for only 4:35 of the game and that was in the first half. That four-point lead remained heading to the final two minutes in a dogfight that never let up.
NMSU leading scorer Molly Kaiser, who came in averaging 20.5 points, fouled out with 1:19 remaining after missing a shot that would have tied it. Abbie Draper hit 1 of 2 free throws and it was 62-59.
It was a lead they would not give up.
“Yeah, my good teams, you start when it’s warm out and you finish when it’s warm out,” Collins said. “That means you had a good year in basketball.”
North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost takes the shot as New Mexico State’s Imani Warren tries to block during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Avery Koenen wrestles for the ball against New Mexico State’s Lucia Yenes (left) and Fanta Gassama during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Molly Lentz tries to get away from New Mexico State’s Loes Rozing during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte sends the ball soaring for a basket as New Mexico State’s Molly Kaiser looks on during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State’s Marisa Frost goes up against New Mexico State’s Sianny Sanchez-Oliver during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
North Dakota State’s Abby Schulte makes the shot against New Mexico State during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
Anna Paige / The Forum
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North Dakota State players exit the court smiling after defeating New Mexico State 68 to 65 during the Bison’s opening game in the Women’s National Invitation Tournament on Monday, March 24, 2025, at Scheels Center at the Sanford Health Athletic Complex in Fargo.
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Jeff would like to dispel the notion he was around when Johannes Gutenberg invented the printing press, but he is on his third decade of reporting with Forum Communications. The son of a reporter and an English teacher, and the brother of a reporter, Jeff has worked at the Jamestown Sun, Bismarck Tribune and since 1990 The Forum, where he’s covered North Dakota State athletics since 1995. Jeff has covered all nine of NDSU’s Division I FCS national football titles and has written three books: “Horns Up,” “North Dakota Tough” and “Covid Kids.” He is the radio host of “The Golf Show with Jeff Kolpack” April through August.
Prosecutors in New Mexico say the evidence that police have collected in connection with a weekend shooting at a park that left three people dead and 15 others injured is “strong.” That includes the accounts of multiple witnesses who identified two of the shooters by name, as well as police officers …
