Authorization to maintain and retake custody of Arizona

prisoners. An officer or employee of the Arizona department of corrections who has in his custody, pursuant to Arizona law, a ward, offender or prisoner of the state of Arizona whom he is transporting from a facility in Arizona to another point in Arizona via New Mexico or to a point in New Mexico for firefighting or conservation work shall maintain custody of such ward, offender or prisoner in New Mexico. Such officer or employee may, in the event of escape of such ward, offender or prisoner in New Mexico, retake such ward, offender or prisoner in the same manner as if such officer or employee were a New Mexico police officer and such ward, offender or prisoner had been committed to his custody under New Mexico law.