EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Las Cruces Police Department, along with several local and federal law enforcement agencies, will collaborate on the 2025 edition of Operation Not in Vain, a months-long crime project in memory of fallen officer Jonah Hernandez.
The operation will begin on Monday, April 28, and is anticipated to run through August, according to Las Cruces Police.
According to the police department, Hernandez was killed in the line of duty on Feb. 11 of last year after responding to a trespassing call.
Hernandez was from El Paso and served two years with the Las Cruces Police Department.
“Our first Not in Vain operation was extremely successful and underscored the importance of collaboration among local, state and federal law enforcement agencies,” Jeremy Story, chief of the Las Cruces Police Department, said. “This year, we’re looking to refine those collaborations, continue pursuing initiatives that make Las Cruces a safer city and keep the memory of Jonah alive in the city he served.”
According to Las Cruces Police, the initial operation generated 127 felony arrests, 114 misdemeanor arrests, 89 criminal citations and over 1,200 traffic citations.
“The men and women of the Las Cruces Police Department have committed to ensure that Hernandez’s service to the community be remembered,” Las Cruces Police said.
According to the department, for the 2025 operation, law enforcement personnel will concentrate on increasing uniformed presence in violent crime hot spots throughout Las Cruces with a focus on frequent offenders and those identified as drivers of violent crime in the community.
Operation Not in Vain will utilize law enforcement resources from the Las Cruces Police Department, New Mexico State Police, the Doña Ana County Sheriff’s Office, the Third Judicial District Attorney’s Office, the U.S. Attorney’s Office and several other federal agencies.
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