Public Safety
Advocate for and help implement local and state-level policies and practices that will result in a reduction in crime in Bernalillo County and a tough, strategic, fair, and sophisticated criminal justice system.
Our Core Beliefs:
- High crime impedes economic growth, raising business costs and impacting hiring, expansion, and relocation decisions
- Albuquerque’s prolonged crime spike has been across-the-board and unprecedented; while progress has been made in reducing property crime, violent crime (and especially gun-related offenses and homicides) remain a major concern.
- Those who commit crimes in Albuquerque must face swift and certain apprehension and punishment; this is a key deterrent
- New Mexico’s justice system has historically been plagued by a number of problems, including poor agency coordination, inadequate technology, and inefficiency in the processing of criminal cases; recent sweeping justice reforms exposed - and in some cases, exacerbated - these longstanding challenges.
- The data-driven differentiation of offenders and deployment of new technology in crime-fighting are key to a more efficient, effective, and fair justice system
- Crime in Albuquerque is substantially driven by drug use, addiction, and behavioral health disorders
The Chamber’s Public Safety Policy Planks:
- Increase the number of police officers and prosecutors in Albuquerque and improve community-based crime-fighting
- Ensure Albuquerque has a well-trained, professional police department; support APD in satisfying the DOJ settlement agreement
- Improve the use of data, analytics, and technology to make policing and prosecution more strategic and intelligence-driven
- Reform criminal justice practices: improve the efficiency of case processing, better address behavioral health challenges, and ensure criminals face swift/certain punishment
Progress and Initiatives
New “Case Catcher” Technology
- Fully build and deploy a new crime-fighting tool that will improve early-stage prosecution decisions and the quality of criminal cases, reduce dismissals and delays, bring defendants to swifter and more certain justice, and increase guilty pleas and conviction rates.
Pre-Trial Release of Serious Offenders
- Raise concerns about the release of dangerous, repeat, and well-connected offenders while they await trial
- Urge courts to use pre-trial detention authority more often
- Push for pre-trial release/detention policy changes
More Officers Doing More Police Work
- Support efforts to recruit more officers to Albuquerque
- Oppose attempts to defund the police and policies that would hinder recruitment
- Encourage local collaboration with federal law enforcement agencies to attack crime
- Ensure the City’s new community safety department accomplishes its goal of allowing officers more time to deal with serious crime challenges
Crime-Fighting Tools
- Continue securing funding for – and push for the deployment of – new technology across Albuquerque to catch violent and serial property criminals, including license plate readers and shot spotters
CLOSE CALL: Inmate Cuts Off Ankle Monitor, Shows Glaring System Weaknesses
If you followed the local news last week, you probably saw the KRQE story about the Albuquerque murder suspect, Trey Bausby, who cut off his ankle monitor …
“A WEDGE IN THE REVOLVING DOOR”: Governor Pledges Support for an Important Pre-Trial Detention Change
Last week, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham addressed the state’s persistent violent crime problem and said creating a rebuttable presumption of detention for certain crimes could …
“PASSIVE MONITORING”: KOB Reporting Shows No Evening, Weekend Supervision of Defendants out on Pre-trial Release
In an alarming story that aired on KOB-TV just days ago, KOB reporter Chris Ramirez found that the 2nd Judicial District Court’s Pretrial Services Division …
Rape Suspect Accused of Another Sexual Assault while on Ankle Monitor
In our last edition of News and Views, we highlighted a local news story about a man who fatally shot another man while on bail. …
ABQ JOURNAL REPORTS: Suspect on Pretrial Release Shoots Man at His Home
Devin Munford was arrested on armed robbery charges of a 7-Eleven store on Sunday. Just days later, he was also charged with the deadly shooting …
GATEWAY CENTER MOVES FORWARD: City Makes $15M Purchase of Gibson Medical Center
Last week, the City of Albuquerque announced the finalization of the $15 million purchase of the Gibson Medical Center. The 572,000-square-foot facility will ultimately become …
LEADERSHIP ABQ: 2020-2021 Class Programming Underway
The Chamber’s 2020-2021 class of Leadership Albuquerque is in full swing! The cohort has now completed two program days: one focusing on the state of …
CRIMESTAT BRIEFING 2020: “The Tale of Two Cities”
Last week, Bernalillo County District Attorney Raúl Torrez delivered his third annual CrimeSTAT briefing virtually to the Chamber at its Public Safety BIG signature event. …
CRISIS TRIAGE CENTER MOVES AHEAD: UNM and Bernalillo County Choose a Site
The University of New Mexico and Bernalillo County announced last week that they have identified two existing buildings that will one day provide stabilization services …
MONEY FOR COPS ON THE TABLE: Mayor Supports City/DOJ Agreement to Accept Nearly $10M in Federal Funds to Hire More Police, Council Consideration Awaits
Last week, Mayor Tim Keller announced his intention to accept and sign onto a Department of Justice grant agreement that will give the City of …