The NMSU Police Department is a full service, 24-hour a day police agency, complete with its own enhanced 911 emergency dispatch center, criminal investigations section and training staff. The NMSU Police Department is responsible for all criminal and traffic law enforcement on just over 180 square miles of land owned and/or controlled by the Board of Regents of NMSU, serving a daytime campus population of over 32,000 and a residential population of around 6,000. While routine patrol is conducted on the approximately 5 square miles of the main campus, officers of the NMSU Police Department will patrol the college ranch and other outlying campuses and research sites as staffing allows. In addition, officers will travel to the branch campuses to assist with security surveys and investigate specific criminal incidents.

There are 22 certified police officer positions and seven certified emergency dispatcher positions in the department. These are assisted by three fulltime civilian employees, nine part-time student employees and 25 part-time reserve officers and dispatchers.