Historically, a posse is a group of civilians called upon by a sheriff to assist temporarily in preserving the peace or placing a fugitive under arrest. The deputized posse of Lincoln County in 1878, composed of Billy the Kid, Dick Brewer, Charlie Bowdre, Henry Brown, Jose Chavez, and the Coe brothers, holds the title as the most notorious posse in the region. This infamous posse played a critical role in the Lincoln County War between warring merchants and cattlemen John Tunstall, James Dolan, and L.G. Murphy. The second meaning of the word posse, however, refers to a group of friends or associates. This second meaning much more accurately describes a modern posse operating today in SENM. The Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse, while a sheriff’s posse in name, serves an entirely different function than keeping the peace. The Eddy County Sheriff’s Posse is a nonprofit organization entirely run by a group of dedicated volunteers. The mission of the organization is to promote Eddy County, the sport of rodeo, horsemanship, sportsmanship, and equine and rider safety. The current group of volunteers has worked tirelessly over the past five years to develop into the active community-minded group that it is today.