Otero County

Otero County was the nineteenth of the thirty-three counties to be created. Established in 1899, the county was created from parts of Doña Ana, Lincoln, and Socorro Counties. 

It was named for Miguel Antonio Otero, territorial governor at the time of its creation.  At 6,627 square miles, it is the third largest county in New Mexico and thirty-fifth largest in the United States.  Only 10% of the land area is privately owned; the Federal government, the Mescalero Apache Tribe, and the State Land Office own the rest of the land. 

Two of the U.S. Army’s largest bases, Fort Bliss and the White Sands Missile Range, are located here.  Because of the Army’s work with rocketry here, the New Mexico Space Museum is located in the county seat of Alamogordo. In 1933, President Hoover created the White Sands National Monument, west of Alamogordo, to protect the gypsum sand dunes.  The southernmost ski area in the United States is at Cloudcroft.  Notable citizens of Otero County include astronomer Alan Hale; U.S. Senator Albert Fall; Governor Edwin Mechem, physicist Edward Condon, and actress Kim Stanley.

Upcoming Events

Mar
10
Mon
2025
Instructor Development (Train the Trainer) @ Bernalillo County, Albuquerque, NM
Mar 10 @ 8:00 am – Mar 14 @ 5:00 pm

This weeklong class will give you the foundation to become a professional and dynamic instructor.  You will learn the principles of learning and teaching, and the qualities of a good instructor. This course is accredited by the NMLEA and is free to NMC Law Enforcement Insurance Pool members.  Non-members may inquire about attending (pending availability) for a fee. Course detail in attached flyer.

TRAINING FOR TRAINERS – Albuquerque August 2024

RSVP

Mar
17
Mon
2025
CIT – 40 hour Crisis Intervention Training @ Socorro, NM
Mar 17 @ 8:00 am – Mar 21 @ 5:00 pm

Description

This 40-hour training provides verbal de-escalation, crisis intervention, and mental health awareness training.  It is intended for Sheriff Deputies, Detention Staff. Firefighter and Emergency Medical First Responders. Course is free to NMC Law Enforcement Pool members.  Non-pool members may inquire about attending (based on availability) for a fee.  See attached flyer for more details.

CIT Albuquerque -June 2024

RSVP

 

Employment Opportunities