Mayor Tim Keller, Chief Harold Medina and City Councilor Joaquin Baca have announced a partnership with law enforcement partners to target youth crime in Downtown Albuquerque.
Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen, District Attorney Sam Bregman, FBI Special Agent in Charge Raul Bujanda and New Mexico State Police joined them to highlight their plans to address youth crime in Downtown Albuquerque.
At the beginning of summer, APD increased officers and resources around and in Downtown to keep the area safe during weekends.
APD officers identified crime trends among underage offenders who have been migrating from other areas of town and nearby communities to hang out in Downtown parking lots and parking garages. Several have been arrested for carrying firearms, underage drinking and fleeing from police.
“We will not tolerate this kind of alarming criminal behavior Downtown or anywhere in our city,” said Keller. “Fighting back against gun violence is a must, and we appreciate our law enforcement partners stepping up to help APD make Downtown safer for everyone.”
“Young offenders in our city need to be held accountable as much as our adult offenders,” Medina added. “We will continue to track these trends and crack down on criminal activity in Downtown and throughout the city. We appreciate all the support we can get from our partners.”