Four Corners Violent Gang Task Force

The Farmington Police Department Gang Unit, now known as the Four Corners Violent Gang Task Force, is a specialized unit of officers that are assigned to investigate organized crimes committed by known gang members and associates.  8 Farmington officers including a supervisor, 1 San Juan County Sheriffs Deputy, and an agent from the Federal Bureau of Investigation make up this unit which works side by side with the Federal Bureau of Investigation, the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Office of the United States Attorney-District of New Mexico, and the Region II Narcotics Task Force.  These officers are federally commissioned and their duties sometimes require short notice travel to other states and metropolitan areas as the investigation dictates.  In December of 2009 the Federal Bureau of Investigation highlighted the Organized Crime Drug Enforcement Task Force (OCDETF) activities of the Four Corners Violent Gang Task Force as one of the top 30 gang investigations in the West Region which includes Washington State, Oregon, California, Montana, Idaho, Wyoming, Nevada, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado, Alaska, Hawaii, Guam, and Saipan.  To date more than 147 arrests have been made 54 of which were felony crimes resulting in drug seizures totally more than $50,000.00 and the seizure of 21 illegal firearms.  Many cases are being prosecuted federally which results in longer prison sentences for those convicted.  In the last year the City of Farmington has seen a 25% reduction in firearms related violence such as drive by shootings, shots fired calls, and gun shot victims.  The Gang Task Force also conducts gang awareness training presentations for organizations such as San Juan Safe Community Initiative, Citizens Academy, new police recruit training, the Animas Valley Mall, and various other schools and organizations.