SUNLAND PARK, N.M. (Border Report) – Police officers in a community abutting the Mexican border just got new authority to pursue lawbreakers and assist in rescues beyond city limits.

Doña Ana County Sheriff Kim Stewart on Wednesday cross-commissioned 24 Sunland Park Police Department officers to exert their authority in unincorporated areas and pursue criminal investigations originating in their community elsewhere in the county.

“This has been a work in progress so we can provide a safer, expedited response to the community,” said Sunland Park Acting Police Chief Andres Morales. “It’s been a plethora of times we’ve had to break off from going into the county because we were not cross commissioned. That’s going to change.”

The immediate impact of the move is that Sunland Park officers w

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