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Albuquerque Community Safety Department ambitious in purpose, limited in funding
By Gordon Payne / NM News Port As 2020 comes to a close, the mayor of New Mexico’s largest city will have to hope for better times next year if one of his key public safety initiatives is going to be realized. Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller hoped to build on his “fighting crime from all […]

APD report reveals systemic failures in police reform
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port An independent monitor overseeing the Albuquerque Police Department’s reform process concluded that police reform efforts have failed and aren’t likely to improve until APD “shoulders its burden” to take responsibility for violations of policy and training. In the Monitor’s Twelfth Report released by court-appointed monitor James Ginger, the […]

Tension rises at APD as Keller looks for a new police chief
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port The Albuquerque Police Department is engaged in some self-assessment and image-polishing as Mayor Tim Keller conducts a national search for a new police chief. It’s been a month since former Albuquerque Police Chief Mike Geier announced his sudden retirement at a press conference. Geier has since told New […]

Albuquerque Police Chief Mike Geier announces sudden retirement
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port After three years as police chief of the Albuquerque Police Department, Mike Geier is retiring, effective Sept. 11, 2020. Geier made the announcement on Sept. 9. “It has been an honor to lead the Albuquerque Police Department,” Geier said in a statement. “After 47 years in law enforcement, […]

Keller introduces new leadership of Violence Intervention Program
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller has introduced new leadership of the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), an initiative announced last year that combines law enforcement with social workers in an attempt to prevent gun violence. “This is a very unique model,” Keller said, indicating it comes from a public health […]

Albuquerque rousts people from makeshift camps, risking virus spread
By Celia Raney / New Mexico In Depth / Going against federal guidance during the era of COVID-19, Albuquerque city personnel periodically roust homeless encampments. Waking inhabitants before sunrise, police deliver orders over a megaphone for men, women, sometimes families to move along in as quickly as 30 minutes. In the frenzy of gathering themselves […]

During COVID lockdown, burglars target closed businesses
By Ludella Awad/ NM News Port / As local businesses remain closed during the coronavirus outbreak, commercial burglaries have increased, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. On the up side, though, police say residential burglaries are down as Albuquerque homes are occupied almost constantly during the stay-at-home order by state and local government. New numbers […]

Stay at home order a ‘perfect recipe for a nightmare’ of domestic violence
By Celia Raney / New Mexico In Depth With the latest order from the governor’s office asking all New Mexicans to stay home except for issues of health and safety – like grocery shopping or going to a doctor – victims of domestic violence may be stuck in their homes, too, with their abusers. “This […]

Nonessential businesses warned to remain closed during the pandemic
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port / The City of Albuquerque is working with state authorities to tighten enforcement against nonessential businesses that should remain closed during the coronavirus emergency. At the same time, the University of New Mexico now is restricting public access to its main campus. The New Mexico State Police and […]

U.S. Census Bureau assures protections in place for workers and data
By Ludella Awad / NM News Port / Residents across the United States have started receiving official mail inviting them to participate in the 2020 Census. Meanwhile, census and community leaders are taking steps to put safeguards in place to protect citizen privacy, to assure census worker safety, and to respond to the coronavirus pandemic. […]