Edgewood Police Chief James Daniels said he hopes to have a police officer visiting area schools some time this year, and the department's newest officer, Dominic Lopez, has some experience as a school resource officer.

"Right now I just need to get my department up to speed," Daniels said. "I haven't got it fully designed yet."

Lopez, who has a 9-year-old daughter, said he would like to do some work at the schools. His most recent post was at the Valencia County Sheriff's Department, where he worked as a school resource officer.

"I have a special interest, my daughter," he said. "She's so small now. I would like to see her grow up in a great environment."

Lopez was raised in Los Lunas, where he graduated high school in 1992 then joined the Marine Corps, where he served for four years. Lopez went overseas twice, spending some time in Somalia, and left the Marines as a corporal.

After that he worked for the federal government. He protected dignitaries, responded to national disasters and demonstrations, and ultimately ended up working in the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement before taking the job in Valencia County.

He applied in Edgewood — where he hopes to build a Santa Fe-style home — because he said the town offers a better way of life, and because he wants his daughter to grow up in small town, he said. He also wanted to work for a smaller department.

"I like small unit leadership," he said. "I'm kind of used to that from the Marine Corps."

Lopez's first day was Monday, and the department still has another vacancy to fill. Daniels said he hopes to hire another officer by mid-February. After that, Daniels said he'd like to give the officers who have been working a little time off.

"It's almost like these guys have been working around the clock," he said. "I don't want these guys burning out."

He's also looking to offer them additional training. Most recently, the Edgewood police learned about weapons of mass destruction.

"Just because we're in a small town, just because we're in a rural area, doesn't mean we shouldn't be prepared," he said. "I'm trying to get to the position where this department is the best police department around."

He's also working to get equipment for the department. However, a set of radios for the police vehicles are still in something of a holding pattern, he said.

"It is to laugh," he said. "This has been ordered since last June."

There are about five radios on loan, and the equipment should be in soon, he said. He's also looking to buy additional Tazers so all the officers have one.

The department has a full set of standard operating procedures, Daniels said. But he has made some changes and additions, which are now in the hands of the town's attorney and will ultimately be in front of the Town Council for approval, Daniels said.