Jim Kalvelage, Ruidoso News (New Mexico)

The Ruidoso Police Department will not undertake some overnight dispatching for Ruidoso Downs police officers, at least for now.

At their Feb. 13 meeting, Ruidoso Downs city councilors initially were going to be asked to approve an agreement that could see the Ruidoso Police Department’s dispatch center provide the services on an as-needed basis between the hours of 11 p.m. and 7 a.m. A shortage of certified dispatch personnel at the Ruidoso Downs Police Department prompted the proposed memorandum of understanding for the police, fire and emergency services.

But Mayor Tom Armstrong removed the item from the council’s new business agenda at the start of Monday’s meeting.

“We have some other plans for that,” Armstrong said.

In addition to being short a couple of dispatchers, the Ruidoso Downs Police Department also needs to beef up its officer roster.

The Ruidoso Police Department’s call center is an Enhansed-911 public safety answering center (PSAP) and a primary E-911 center. The Ruidoso Downs Police Department has a secondary E-911 PSAP. Under the on-hold agreement, the Ruidoso Police Department would dispatch emergency and non-emergency messages for Ruidoso Downs police and fire units, as well as provide warrant information and National Crime Information Center system checks.

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