Benjamin “Ben” Martin
Email: martinbm@nmsu.edu
Degrees & Schools:
Master of Social Work, Western New Mexico University, Expected Graduation July 2025
Master of Criminal Justice, New Mexico State University, May 2009
International Study Aboard, British Studies of Criminal Justice, Northwestern University/Queen Mary’s College, London, England, July 2007
Bachelor of Criminal Justice, Minor in Sociology, Western New Mexico University, Dec. 2006
Certifications:
Force Science Institute Advanced Specialist New Mexico
Licensed polygraph examiner
NMDPS Use of Force Instructor
NMDPS Master Firearms Instructor
Areas of Interest:
Law Enforcement, Leadership, Use of Force Analysis-Human Factors, Criminal Investigations, Forensic Crime Scene Process, Firearms-Armorer/Design/Function, Trauma, PTSD in first responders
Biography
Benjamin “Ben” Martin brings over 25 years of law enforcement and instructing experience to the classroom. Ben began his law enforcement career as a police officer with Western New Mexico University in Silver City, NM in 1996. He ended his career in retirement in 2021 from the Dona Ana County Sheriff’s Office in Las Cruces, NM. He promoted from deputy to detective, then sergeant and lastly lieutenant. Among his duties were Honor Guard commander, Firearms Coordinator, Senior Polygraph examiner, general law enforcement instructor, use of force instructor and firearms instructor.
During his time as a detective, he was assigned to assist in officer involved shootings and in custody death investigations in 2008. Ben was one of the original members of the officer involved critical incident multi-agency task force. He attended several courses which looked into the investigation and analysis of human factors and behaviors of officers during critical incidents resulting in the use of force. This knowledge and interest took Ben to taking additional course after retirement from the Force Science Institute for the Advanced Use of Force Analysis Specialist. He continues to apply this knowledge through his personal consulting business.
In January 2010, Ben began his professional teaching at Dona Ana Community College in the Criminal Justice Division. He taught there for two years and then returned in January 2022 where he still is an adjunct professor. He is now expanded this experience at NMSU for the Criminal Justice Department.
He is currently working towards a second master’s degree in social work and anticipates graduating in the summer of 2025. After which he will be working with first responders in their betterment of mental health.
