ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — New Mexico National Guard troops are set to deploy to Albuquerque on Memorial Day weekend.
Operation Zia Shield involves 71 volunteer National Guard soldiers—53 of whom are from the Albuquerque metro area—who will help the Albuquerque Police Department secure crime scenes, operate drones, and provide emergency medical aid like administering Narcan. The guardsmen will not be making arrests, officials emphasized.
“There is no intention of a military presence in Albuquerque,” said Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina. “I’m sure we will have to do some fine-tuning, we will have to continue to watch over things. But I have no doubt that we will find success in this program.”…