Guard Deployments: Costly or Credible? | Santa Fe News

New Mexico poured over $22 million into National Guard deployments in Española and Albuquerque to fight crime, but new analysis casts doubt on whether it worked—crime stats barely budged, dispatch calls even rose, and Rio Arriba County lacks solid data showing impact. The governor’s office defends the move, arguing unarmed Guards freed up local cops and helped reduce overdoses and ER visits, while citing task force arrests and seized guns as wins. Critics say the money could’ve hired more officers, calling the Guard a temporary fix with limited power—and question if national crime trends, not the deployments, explain any dips. Local leaders praise the Guards’ support, but debate rages over whether this costly strategy is truly effective or just a stopgap. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/4d45c61809a42ae3