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Law enforcement agencies across New Mexico for the past few years have called on State Police Capt. Robert Schilling when they needed a few extra detectives to help crack a case or equipment to battle drug rings.

He was able to answer the call thanks to staffing and equipment funded from a federal grant known as JAG - officially the Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant Program.

But this year looks bleak for communities in need of Schilling's help and for departments, including the Albuquerque Police Department, that receive JAG grants.

President Bush approved a spending bill in December that slashes the JAG federal grant by two-thirds, from $520 million last year to $170 million this year.

The Department of Public Safety, which disperses a large portion of the grant, expects to receive about $900,000 next year from the JAG program - $2 million less than last year, department spokesman Peter Olson said.

Because about 90 percent of the grant money goes toward fighting drug-related crimes, it affects every New Mexican, Olson said.

"$900,000 is going to be tough," he said. "You could have nothing to do with drug trafficking or drug trade, but you can be a victim because someone can break into your house and steal your property to sell for drugs."

Schilling, whose division in violent crimes received about $530,000 last year, said the funding paid for equipment and overtime.

With the JAG aid, his task force was able to make about 440 arrests last year, he said.

Rural communities, which often lack resources, will suffer most from the cuts, Schilling said.

"You may see some area where two or three investigators are not funded anymore," he said. "They just basically disappear. It's going to be a huge huge hit for regional task forces."

He said the program has been active in Valencia County and Española, areas plagued with drug problems.

Capt. Greg Toya, of the State Police narcotics investigation unit, said the cuts are crushing.

"It will affect narcotic investigations statewide very, very harshly," he said. "I mean, it's going to be devastating."

Toya said the grant helps pay for overtime and equipment, such as cell phones and top-of-the-line night vision equipment needed near the border areas rife with drug-related crimes.

Although the grant mostly funds police stations in rural areas, it will also affect the Albuquerque Police Department, spokesman John Walsh said.

The department received about $500,000 in JAG funding last year.

He said most of the money paid for task forces that tackled drug-related crimes.

"We rely heavily on the federal grants and other means to fund the special task forces and equipment purchases," he said. "If in fact the cuts come into fruition, we'll have to look into alternative funding sources for our multitude of different types of projects."