Socorro Council approves grant-funded crime analyst position and two law-enforcement grants

Socorro City — The City Council approved three items affecting police staffing and overtime funding: a grant-funded part-time crime analyst position and two grant resolutions to accept state funding for police overtime.

Carol Gandalati, the city’s human resources director, asked the council to approve a part-time crime analyst job description for the police department. Gandalati said the position is grant-funded and will begin as soon as a qualified candidate is hired; funding runs through September 2025. Council voted to approve the job description on motion and second.

The council also approved Resolution 809 to authorize submission of, and designation of the city manager as the authorized official for, a Local Border Security Program grant administered by the Office of the Governor’s Homeland Security Grants Division. Staff said the grant amount is approximately $85,000 and is intended to fund police overtime. Council previously approved participation in similar grants.

Council then approved Resolution 810 to apply for Operation Stone Garden funds for fiscal year 2024, also administered by the Office of the Governor. Staff told the council the department expects to receive roughly $80,000–$85,000 to fund officer overtime for the initiative; Socorro has participated in Operation Stone Garden since 2015, staff said.

Each item passed on motion and second with the mayor calling the voice vote. The grants require no local match, staff said; both were described as funding overtime hours for the Socorro Police Department.