NMSU review calls for new gun possession and curfew policies

An internal New Mexico state investigation released Thursday made a series of recommendations following a season that included a fatal shooting, program shutdown amid hazing allegations and coach’s firing -first-year leader Greg Heiar.

The investigation was opened by the Rodey Law Firm in Albuquerque in November after NMSU forward Mike Peake shot and killed a University of New Mexico student in what police called self-defense .

The company’s report concluded that the school committed no violations of law or the NCAA. But he recommended several changes to athletics policies, including new rules on team curfews; a more detailed policy prohibiting possession of weapons while traveling to team events; and guidelines on how coaches and staff should speak to the police, especially if an incident occurs off campus.

“We are sharing this information with our campus community to show our commitment to transparency and begin working together to implement the report’s recommendations,” school chancellor Dan E. Arvizu said in a note. on duty. “We have said from the start that if this review highlights opportunities for improvement, we will pursue them. Although the report did not identify any breaches by the university of its legal obligations, we now know that we have areas that can be strengthened. We will soon be announcing a task force that will work closely with administration and the board to address these recommendations.”

State police investigating the November shooting said Peake acted in self-defense and was not charged with any crime. However, he was suspended indefinitely by the program.

Heiar was fired in February, days after school officials announced the cancellation of the NMSU season following a police report alleging multiple incidents of hazing within the program. Heiar had already come under scrutiny after leaving town with his team after the shooting, although he knew state police had wanted to speak with him and some of his players who picked up Peake on the scene of the shooting.

Several players violated curfew the night of the shooting, which was confirmed by coaches interviewed by state police. The strongest language in the NMSU report was aimed at the school’s curfew policy.

“Many colleges and universities leave the management of curfews to individual coaches,” the report said. “Nevertheless, because so many of the NMSU basketball team players broke curfew the night of the shooting incident, and in fact were out of their hotel rooms well past curfew, we recommend that NMSU consider developing a policy that addresses the enactment and enforcement of team curfews during out-of-town travel and related expectations of NMSU student-athletes.

“The policy should make clear to student-athletes the importance of following team curfew rules and the importance of presenting themselves as student ambassadors consistent with NMSU values. NMSU should train all coaches and student-athletes to these expectations.”