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By Susan Montoya Bryan
Related Press
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham on Tuesday declared a state of emergency in New Mexico’s largest metropolis, saying {that a} vital enhance in crime in Albuquerque warrants the assistance of the New Mexico Nationwide Guard.
She signed an government order, clearing the way in which for a number of dozen troops to be deployed alongside the historic Route 66 hall beginning in mid-Might. The order additionally frees up state funds for the Nationwide Guard to make use of as a part of the trouble.
Coaching for 60 to 70 troops already is underway, the governor’s workplace stated.
Governors usually name up the Nationwide Guard to assist with pure disasters like wildfires, earthquakes, tornadoes and hurricanes. Governors in recent times even have ordered troops to address illegal crossings on the U.S.-Mexico border. In New York final yr, the Nationwide Guard helped patrol the subway system following a sequence of high-profile crimes.
In New Mexico, Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina referred to as it an important time for the Nationwide Guard to supply assist that provides law enforcement officials extra time to patrol the streets for crime.
Medina and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller pointed to a big chart throughout a information convention, saying almost each class of crime has come down because the starting of the yr due to the work already being completed by the police power.
The Nationwide Guard is not going to be partaking with the general public, they stated, however reasonably taking up duties that drain the time of sworn officers, like directing site visitors. The troops may also help safe crime scenes, distribute meals and provides to the homeless inhabitants all through the hall, transport prisoners, present courthouse safety and run drone operations used for finding suspects or assessing incidents, officers stated.
Watchdog teams have issues that militarizing civilian regulation enforcement will result in civil rights violations.
Daniel Williams, coverage advocate on the ACLU of New Mexico, referred to as the governor’s motion a present of power, not an answer.
“New Mexico already has one of many highest per capita charges of individuals killed by police within the nation,” Williams stated. “Historical past has proven that navy collaboration with native regulation enforcement usually results in elevated civil rights violations, racial profiling, and criminalization of weak populations, notably these experiencing homelessness and poverty.”
After being struck and wounded by the Harmony Police officer’s gunfire, the person raised the knife and lunged at officers twice, resulting in the deadly capturing
An MRAP car carried out a profitable PIT maneuver to cease the fleeing girl, who recognized herself to officers as a “CIA agent”
Mike Warfle, the longtime police chief in Pittsford, is making ready to retire after a 40-year profession; in the meantime, his son, Jeff Warfle, was just lately appointed police chief in Ludlow
It’s not the primary time Lujan Grisham has tried to leverage state sources to handle excessive crime charges in Albuquerque. In 2021, the two-term Democrat briefly assigned state law enforcement officials to the world to assist native authorities sort out car thefts, drug trafficking, aggressive driving and the apprehension of violent criminals with felony warrants.
The yr earlier than, then-President Donald Trump sent federal agents, together with Homeland Safety officers, to Albuquerque as a part of an effort to comprise violent crime. He additionally focused Chicago and different U.S. cities with the surge in sources.
Lujan Grisham’s newest emergency declaration follows a March 31 request by Albuquerque’s police chief, who pointed to the fentanyl epidemic and an increase in violent juvenile crime. Medina wrote that progress has been made in decreasing shootings and aggravated assaults alongside what is called Central Avenue however that extra sources are wanted.
The New Mexico Legislature adjourned final month, drawing much criticism from regulation enforcement leaders, prosecutors and even the governor for failing to adequately bolster public security in Albuquerque and different New Mexico communities.
Statistics launched by the Albuquerque police division in February confirmed an 11% lower in aggravated assaults in 2024 in comparison with the prior yr, whereas homicides decreased for a second straight yr.
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