In the late 1980’s Artesia Mayor Ernest Thompson was instrumental in forming a community coalition to raise funds to purchase the land upon which the Artesia FLETC currently sits. The campus which was established as a small liberal arts college and later a private Christian college had been vacant for a number of years. Mayor Thompson was aware of discussion within the federal government to establish a law enforcement training center in the southwest portion of the country. Mayor Thompson and the coalition proposed Artesia as a viable location and in September of 1988 following the passage of the Treasury, Postal Service and General Government Appropriations Act, House Resolution 4775 ownership transferred from the City of Artesia to the United States Government Department of Treasury. The Federal Law Enforcement Training Center in Artesia was officially opened on October 1, 1989