U.S. District Judge James O. Browning dismissed the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) on May 12, ending U.S. Department of Justice oversight in Albuquerque. The ruling comes after the Albuquerque Police Department’s achievement of full and effective compliance with all terms of the agreement.
After the ruling, Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller and Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina responded to the decision by Judge Browning.
“This is the momentous time in the history of the Albuquerque Police Department as the men and women at APD have earned the right to move away from federal oversight. This is not a political decision, nor is it appropriate for anyone to claim victory. APD built a foundation for modern, Constitutional policing that will continue to keep the community safe, while respecting the rights of all people our officers serve,” said Mayor Keller.
Keller and Medina have been directly involved with CASA for nearly eight of the 11 years.
The Chamber has pushed for a swift exit from the settlement agreement for years. We congratulate the mayor and Chief Medina on the accomplishment. We are also appreciative to Judge Browning for the ruling. As we move forward, the Chamber will continue its work on public safety and is encouraged that Judge Browning’s decision will help APD with its work to keep us safe.