Alamogordo City Commission Meeting Tuesday 630 pm Focuses on Flock Public Safety Technology, School Security, and Sunspot Preservation

ALAMOGORDO — The Alamogordo City Commission will hold its regular meeting Tuesday, August 11, 2026, at 6:30 PM at Donald E. Carroll City Commission Chambers, City Hall, 1376 E. Ninth Street, addressing several key community priorities including public safety technology, school security partnerships, and the preservation of a historic scientific landmark.

Public Comment Opportunities Available

Members of the public wishing to address the commission during the public comment period are required to sign up with City Clerk Rachel Hughs before the meeting begins. Each speaker receives a standard three-minute allocation, though Mayor Sharon McDonald reserves the right to adjust time limits based on the number of public comments received.

The city reminds attendees that the commission chambers are wheelchair accessible. Anyone requiring special accommodations must contact the City Clerk’s Office at 575-439-4100 at least 48 hours in advance.

School Resource Officer Agreement Advances

The commission will consider approval of a Professional Services Contract with Alamogordo Public Schools for three full-time School Resource Officers at the district’s secondary schools during the 2026-2027 academic year. The $138,510.50 contract reflects a cost-sharing arrangement in which the school district reimburses the city for 50 percent of the officers’ salaries and benefits.

According to contract terms, the uniformed officers will provide safety and security services during the school year and perform other law enforcement duties during school breaks. The school district will provide dedicated office space for the SROs at all secondary schools and maintain access to the district’s video surveillance system for law enforcement investigations.

Flock Camera System Delivers Results Per Presentation to Be Discussed 

Police Chief David Kunihiro will present an operational update on the Flock license plate reader and live-view camera system, which reached full installation completion in June 2026. The $500,000, two-year contract approved in February 2025 has equipped the city with 60 surveillance devices.

Crime-Fighting Success: The system has already demonstrated measurable impact on public safety. Hit-and-run crash cases solved increased by 76 percent, with 21 cases resolved in 2024 compared to 37 in 2025. Officers have also used the technology to assist in locating wanted subjects and identifying reckless drivers and suspected impaired drivers.

Specific Case Examples:

In one case, officers quickly determined that a reportedly stolen vehicle was actually undergoing a legal repossession, saving investigative resources and preventing an unnecessary entry into the National Crime Information Center database.

In another investigation, police used Flock data to identify a vehicle matching a description provided by a 78-year-old sexual assault victim. Combined with traditional investigative methods, officers located and apprehended the suspect within 30 minutes, leading to charges of attempted kidnapping, sexual assault, and related offenses.

A third case involved a vehicle theft call at a commercial location. Using vehicle descriptions from witnesses, officers identified a matching vehicle within two minutes through the camera system and determined that suspects were attempting to steal a vehicle while a property owner was defending himself.

How It Works: When criminal activity is reported, officers and dispatchers review available information and search the Flock database using partial license plates or vehicle descriptors. If a match is found, officers review camera footage showing the back of the vehicle, license plate closeup, direction of travel, road location, and time of detection. The system provides fixed-point data only—it does not enable continuous vehicle tracking.

Privacy Protections in Place: All searches require a mandated reason and are subject to monthly audits. License plate reader data is retained for 30 days, while video footage is retained for seven days. Officers must be aware of a crime within seven days to access relevant footage before it expires. The system cannot capture audio, take license plate photos, recognize or identify individuals, or automatically identify crimes.

Sunspot Observatory Preservation Effort

The commission will also consider Resolution 2026-30, which formally requests that the National Science Foundation pause the proposed demolition of Sunspot Observatory and calls on state and national legislators to provide time for exploring development of the facility as a multi-use education and tourism center.

The historic observatory is described as an integral element of the modern history of Alamogordo and Otero County, with significant local and national support for exploring potential development for scientific history preservation, education, and tourism. City Manager Robert Stockwell noted that such development would have a significant positive economic impact on Alamogordo, Cloudcroft, and Otero County.

Meeting Details

The meeting begins at 6:30 PM. Attendees are asked to silence cell phones or set them to vibrate. Those needing to take calls are requested to step outside the commission chambers.

The full agenda, including minutes from the July 28 and July 30 meetings and consent agenda items, is available on the city website at http://ci.alamogordo.nm.us.

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