sa国际传媒官网网页入口

For domestic violence survivors, the workplace can be one of the safest places to escape an abuser, even if it鈥檚 just for a few hours.

Janis Garcia knew this well. 

She spent her days feeling safer at work than she ever did when she was at home. It wasn鈥檛 until she managed to leave her abusive relationship that she understood what it meant to feel peace at home.

Garcia now works at the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department as the office manager of the Criminal Investigations Division and spends part of her days supporting people through the same situations she once went through.

鈥淚 now anticipate the end of my workday because I look forward to clocking out and heading home to enjoy my new life,鈥� Garcia wrote in a letter. 鈥淚 know your loved ones would rather celebrate your new life with you, rather than celebrate your death date.鈥�

On Thursday, law enforcement agencies from across New Mexico gathered inside the Family Advocacy Center in Downtown sa国际传媒官网网页入口 to announce the expansion of a domestic violence awareness campaign. 

In May 2025, the  at Work campaign launched across the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口, in large part due to Garcia鈥檚 work and collaboration with the city to provide the resources she said she wished she had in her time of need.

The campaign requires city employees to attend domestic violence awareness training and ensures that resources 鈥� such as domestic violence flyers, information on restraining orders and links to financial assistance for survivors 鈥� are available in the workplace.

Additionally, S.A.F.E. offers resources to employees dealing with stress or anger at home.

Now, the Bernalillo County District Attorney鈥檚 Office, the Bernalillo County Sheriff鈥檚 Office and New Mexico State Police are joining the program to adopt materials within their own facilities, with the hopes of continuing the expansion into other places of work throughout the state.

鈥淒omestic violence does not stay neatly contained behind closed doors, and no profession is immune from its impact,鈥� said Sheriff John Allen. 鈥淭he more we raise awareness and remind people that help is available, the better chance we have of reaching someone before they suffer in silence.鈥�

Mayor Tim Keller said 鈥渄omestic violence has actually gone way up in the last year in the city of sa国际传媒官网网页入口.鈥�

鈥淓ven though we're making progress on almost every other category of crime, domestic violence is an outlier in a bad way,鈥� he added.

The sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department handled 660 reports of aggravated assault related to domestic violence between January and March 2025. APD responded to 677 cases during the same period this year.

In 2025, the DA鈥檚 Office handled 4,619 misdemeanor and 840 felony domestic violence cases, according to office spokesperson Nancy Laflin. More than 1,381 misdemeanor and 201 felony domestic violence cases have been opened so far this year.

鈥淭hese cases represent some of the highest volumes that we handle of any type of case in our office,鈥� said District Attorney Sam Bregman. 鈥淏ehind these cases are people navigating fear, uncertainty and very real risks. We hold people accountable under the rule of law and, just as important, we are here to help support and connect survivors with the resources they need.鈥�

Nakayla McClelland covers crime and breaking news. Reach her at nmcclelland@abqjournal.com or at 505-823-3857.