Cortez Newest JPD Officer

By John Earp

The Jal Police Department has a new law enforcement officer. This past May, Joshua Cortez completed the Southeastern New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy on the campus of New Mexico Junior College. Cortez, who is just 20 years old, worked previously for the City of Jal Community Services Department and for the Hobbs City Jail as a corrections officer for two years. His experience working in the Hobbs City Jail made him feel like he would be able to do something more meaningful for people by becoming a police officer. He is following in the footsteps of his dad, who also served with Otero County Prison, with Geo Group in Hobbs, as well as in Santa Fe as a corrections officer, and now works as a school resource officer in Jal. Joshua said he was inspired to become a police officer by seeing how happy his father was with his job.

With just a few months experience under his belt, Joshua says he is still learning how to serve in his present assignment as a patrol officer. His favorite part of being a police officer is talking with the kids. “They often come up to me because I’m a police officer, and they’re always so welcoming. It makes me happy to be a part of the community when I see the kids,” Cortez says.

Eventually, Joshua wants to become a part of the regional SWAT Team Task Force. He is presently working the night shift, from 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m., but the schedule changes around from month to month. Cortez says the highways stay surprisingly busy even in the dead of night. He says he loves his job, and enjoys being a patrolman.