A passion for justice leads to leadership ranks

Two NMSU criminal justice graduates have been named to the top law enforcement jobs in the state and in Las Cruces.

W. Troy Weisler ’02 began his career as a New Mexico State Police recruit after graduating from NMSU with a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice with a minor in psychology. He was named chief of the agency in 2024.

“NMSU gave me the foundation that my entire professional life has been built on,” Weisler says. “We are doing everything we can to encourage young people to get into the law enforcement profession. One of our biggest focus areas for this is NMSU, particularly the criminal justice department. We have been working to find innovative ways to team up on everything from internships to micro-credentialing and research projects for graduate students.”

For more than two decades, Weisler served the NMSP in various investigation, research and narcotics roles in Farmington, Albuquerque and Santa Fe. New Mexico’s senate unanimously confirmed him as NMSP’s 23rd chief in February 2024.

Jeremy Story ’12 was named chief of the Las Cruces Police Department in December 2023 after serving as interim chief since July 2023. Story joined LCPD in 2007. 

“Law enforcement is a special profession,” Story says. “It is by no means an easy career, but nothing worth doing ever is. Most people have a point in their lives where they stop, reflect and ask themselves ‘Did I make a difference in the world?’ A police officer will never have to ask that question, and it is something that is priceless. Young people want purpose in their lives and law enforcement absolutely provides that.”

Prior to joining LCPD, Story served in the Marine Corps. He has overseen the department’s academy, SWAT team, traffic unit and gang unit, and served as commander of LCPD’s Honor Guard. He was a lieutenant with LCPD from 2018 until moving to deputy chief of operations in 2022, then interim chief and chief in 2023.

Both Weisler and Story agree the future success of law enforcement in New Mexico relies on partnerships with community, businesses and educational institutions.