The New Mexico Department of Public Safety hosted its annual missing persons event, offering families resources and support to address the state’s high rates of missing and murdered individuals.
The New Mexico Department of Public Safety hosted its annual missing persons event, “Missing in New Mexico,” providing families with resources and support as the state continues to rank among the highest in the U.S. for missing and murdered individuals.
“I’m so thankful that this happens because it brings the families together,” Karen Watson said while attending the event. “We continue to show up and the state continues to show up, and we build that bridge together.”
Watson’s sister, Dione Thomas, was killed in Gallup, New Mexico in 2015. Despite interviews and investigations with law enforcement, Watson says her sister’s murderer has yet to be charged.
“If you talk to me and this is my story, you talk to another family and their story is going to be just the same. It’s the same roadblocks, the same issues, the same need for resources,” Watson said.
The Department of Public Safety said the event brings resources to families in one place, including case updates and DNA collection.
“This event houses critical resources and important information for families all in one single location, where they’re able to walk from booth to booth and have access to all of the individuals here that are here to help them find their missing family and family members and loved ones,” Deputy Cabinet Secretary Sylvia Serna said.
State Police Major Troy Velasquez explained how officer training has evolved to better assist families.
“We’re training these officers to go out there if you’re called, it doesn’t matter where it’s at, if it’s a missing person, get out there, get on scene, meet with the family, take the initial report. Get that information,” Velasquez said. “And then we can worry about jurisdiction after, but we need to get the ball rolling.”
Velasquez said they’ve implemented better interagency collaboration, whether it’s between FBI or local agencies. He said asking detailed questions during the first interview is vital.
Velasquez said families can help officers by reporting their missing loved one as soon as possible.
“We try to make sure that we get the word out there to the families that as soon as you get to that point where you don’t feel comfortable and you want to report them missing, report them missing,” he said.
Although Watson said that law enforcement initially failed her family, she acknowledged the progress in recent years, and emphasized the importance of working together with the state.
“Who else are we going to work with? Who else do you turn to besides law enforcement? You really put this trust in them,” Watson said.
She expressed gratitude for the relationships that have helped make change.
A 2022 law requires the Department of Public Safety to host this event annually. Serna said it has become more than a requirement, serving as a place for families to connect with resources.
