The Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce has named Las Cruces Police Department’s Curtis Yarnell as its 2021 Police Officer of the Year.
Yarnell was recognized and presented with a plaque by the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce on Tuesday, April 20, during a ceremony that was live-streamed on Facebook. Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Debbi Moore and Board Chairman Jed Fanning, President of Citizens Bank, presented Yarnell with the award.
Las Cruces police Sgt. Vincent Shadd, formerly the supervisor of LCPD’s School Resource Officer program, nominated Yarnell for the award.
“Officer Yarnell exemplifies how one person can make a difference,” said Shadd. “He role models how good choices, no matter what your background is, can make a positive difference in the community you’re in.”
Yarnell is a School Resource Officer at Mayfield High School and a four-year veteran of the Las Cruces Police Department. Prior to joining LCPD in 2017, Yarnell was a deputy at the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office since 2008.
Besides his duties as a School Resource Officer, Yarnell is a SWAT instructor, firearms instructor, law enforcement fitness specialist and a certified police cyclist. He has also had great success in helping remove narcotics from schools by building relationships and trust with students and staff.
The Las Cruces Police Department thanks the Greater Las Cruces Chamber of Commerce, and all its members, for their continued support of law enforcement officers throughout our community.