April 10, 2015

HOUSE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 25

The Honorable Don L. Tripp, Speaker of the House and

Members of the House of Representatives
State Capitol Building
Santa Fe, NM 87501
Honorable Speaker Tripp and Members of the House:
I have this day SIGNED HOUSE BILL 560, as amended, with certification of correction,
enacted by the Fifty-Second Legislature, First Session, 2015.
House Bill 560 (HB 560) makes numerous changes to the asset forfeiture process used by
law enforcement agencies in New Mexico. As an attorney and career prosecutor, I
understand how important it is that we ensure safeguards are in place to protect our
constitutional rights. On balance, the changes made by this legislation improve the
transparency and accountability of the forfeiture process and provide further protections
to innocent property owners.
For these reasons, I have signed HB 560. However, I must make it clear that policing
for profit is an overused, oversimplified, and cynical term that, in my opinion,
disrespects our law enforcement officers. These heroes in our communities take on
extraordinary risk, face incredible harm, and operate with tremendous courage, and this
catch phrase improperly questions their motives and disregards their desire to serve and
protect.
It is also dangerous to discount the role that funds acquired through forfeitures have
played in keeping our communities safe and in protecting our officers from harm. We
cannot allow this new law to undermine our efforts to combat crime throughout this state.
With the passage of this legislation, it is more critical than ever before that every county
and municipality, as well as the state legislature, makes a stronger commitment to fully
fund our law enforcement agencies so that they can continue undertaking complex
investigations, protecting the public, and protecting themselves while doing so.
New Mexico is a border state. The trafficking of narcotics and the presence of other
crimes is a very real threat to the public safety of our communities. We must ensure that

HOUSE EXECUTIVE MESSAGE NO. 25

The Honorable Don L. Tripp
April 10, 2015
Page 2
our law enforcement officers have the training, protection, and tools necessary to fight
crime within our borders. The burden is on public officials at every level to ensure that
our law enforcement officers are respected for the work they do and have all the
resources they need to protect our families.
Respectfully yours,

Susana Martinez
Governor

RECEIVED FROM THE OFFICE OF THE GOVERNOR

Time: _________________ a.m. p.m.

Date: _________________, 2015

Time: _________________ a.m. p.m.

Date: _________________, 2015

By__________________________________
Secretary of State

By ________________________________
Chief Clerk of the House