A packed room welcomed home Belen resident Victoria Baca at Monday's Belen City Council meeting with recognition that was much different from a celebration that she took part in earlier this year.

Baca, a Belen High School graduate, was stationed at Camp Cropper, a base that once housed some of the world's most dangerous detainees such as former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein and his regime.

She returned home to Belen earlier this month, and was honored by the city council proclaiming Feb. 15 as "Victoria Baca Day."

"We were barbecuing on New Years," said Baca, who returned to the United States on Jan. 15. "It was a big holiday for everybody until mortars started coming inside the base."

Baca said she was glad to get home to see her 2-year-old son, Andres, and plans to trade her M-16 for a 9 mm pistol after she takes the physical and written tests to apply to be an officer at the Belen Police Department.

"I have always loved the whole uniform thing and serving my country," she said.

Groups such as the Belen Breakfast Optimists Club and members of the Belen VFW group honored Baca by saluting her. They all showed their appreciation for the Belen resident who served her country.

Councilor Rudy Jaramillo said it's important for the city to acknowledge the return of veterans who come back home after a tour of duty.

"Sometimes, we put those things on the back burner," Jaramillo said. "We need to do this kind of thing for you folks taking care of our military and our country."

Councilor Terese Ulivarri said she was proud of Baca, and has known her for sometime before she was deployed overseas.

"I have known this young lady since she was a baby, and she was a brat," Ulivarri joked. "It's so nice to see that she has grown up to be such a lovely young woman."

In other action, the council:

•Adopted a resolution that authorizes finance director Michael Steininger and city manager Sally Garley to submit documents for a grant agreement for the New Mexico Environment Department for water system improvements, the Belen Water System Arsenic Removal Plan and the Belen Phase II Collection Systems Repair.

•Heard from Belen Fire Chief Manny Garcia, who said that said the substation at the Belen Alexander Airport is completed.

He said a fire truck will be housed at the station once the vehicle's maintenance is completed. Garcia said a grand opening is planned in the next couple of weeks.

• Heard from Belen Police Chief Mike Chavez, who presented the 2009 annual report.

The report shows 12 categories of crime such as murder, rape, robberies and burglaries in the city limits over the past five years. The statistics show murders are down from four in 2008 to one in 2009. Assaults have increased from 43 in 2008 to 51 in 2009.

Chavez said he has encouraged the community to start neighborhood watch groups, and wants the program to grow in the Belen area.

"It's very difficult sometimes," Chavez said. "You get people that take their kids to football and soccer, and then stop doing the neighborhood watch. It's hard to keep (the groups) together. But we do have some successful ones."

Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it