Mayor Tim Keller's Crime StrategyTackling crime from all sides to build a safer Albuquerque.https://beta.cabq.gov/mayor/crime-strategyhttps://beta.cabq.gov/++resource++plone-logo.svgMayor Tim Keller's Crime StrategyTackling crime from all sides to build a safer Albuquerque.https://beta.cabq.gov/mayor/crime-strategyhttps://beta.cabq.gov/++resource++plone-logo.svg
Mayor Tim Keller's Crime Strategy
Tackling crime from all sides to build a safer Albuquerque.
Metro Crime Initiative: Lowering Crime in Albuquerque
Throughout the summer, the City of Albuquerque convened leaders from across the criminal justice system to collaborate on crime-fighting in the metro area. The Metro Crime Initiative (MCI) has created a to-do list, action items the City and our partners are taking now to lower crime in Albuquerque.
Click on a topic below to learn more about what we are doing to tackle crime and how you can help.
Crime is the most pressing issue in Albuquerque and I have made public safety my top priority.
We are aiming higher when it comes to our expectations of safety and security for the people of Albuquerque by continuing to reform the Albuquerque Police Department, getting back to real community policing, hiring more police officers and getting them the tools they need. We are also facing some of the pervasive root causes of crime head-on by addressing homelessness, addiction and behavioral health challenges.
Building a safer Albuquerque after a decade of rising crime is a long road. For lasting results, we can’t rely on band-aids fixes - we must approach all different kinds of crime with resolve and determination.
Learn more below about these efforts to make our city safer, block-by-block.
Community Policing
The idea is simple: Build relationships and work with communities to address their concerns and priorities.
We are successfully fighting crime when we work hand-in-hand with communities to implement solutions that keep people safe. Our officers are working with neighborhoods, business owners, faith-based organizations, schools, and more to tailor proven public safety strategies to meet the needs of specific areas. APD Community Policing comprises three key components: Problem Solving, Community Partnerships and Organizational Transformation.
Problem Solving: Solving problems means, first, identifying issues that need to be addressed and then determining resolutions and devoting effort to meeting needs for a successful outcome. The SARA (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment) model is one of the most familiar processes for problem-oriented policing (POP). APD is using this model.
Community Partnerships: Partnerships between law enforcement and the individuals and organizations they serve to develop solutions to problems and increase trust in police. APD will focus on creating partnerships with a diverse section of the Albuquerque community and will work with key community stakeholders including, but not limited to:
Other law enforcement agencies
Social service providers
Business community
Educational institutes
Local prosecutors
Faith-based organizations
Neighborhood interest groups
Youth organizations
These partnerships will identify community challenges and focus on developing a strong road map to address those challenges (problem solving).
Organizational Transformation: APD is transforming the way we provide service to residents. The new focus is based on the three guiding principles of community policing. The transformation begins at the roots of the department by changing our training to develop the principles during the earliest stages of a police officer’s career. The instruction will carry on throughout an officer’s career as these principles become the benchmark for department recognition and advancement. The police department will begin developing community police officers who will lead the department for the next 25 years and following.
Tackling crime from all sides means addressing challenges like homelessness, addiction, and behavioral health. When it comes to behavioral health, we are working to increase access to services so people can get the compassionate care they need.
APD is partnering with Albuquerque Fire Rescue, Family and Community Services, and other departments to improve and increase access to services.
Crisis Intervention Team (CIT):
The Crisis Intervention Team's goal is to provide an effective response to situations involving people who might be mentally ill or in crisis.
The CIT works with people in the Albuquerque community who exhibit chronic behavior patterns that may pose risks to themselves or others.
One of the team's primary goals is to ensure that situations involving people in crisis are defused so to avoid force and proper medical attention or referral to an appropriate follow-up agency is provided.
The team also works closely with the mental health care provider network to help identify deficiencies in our health care programs.
Homelessness is a harsh reality in Albuquerque and we’ve outlined a multifaceted approach including emergency shelter, transitional housing, and more. In collaboration with our community partners, we’re addressing immediate needs while working to build the city’s first centrally-located, 24/7, year-round homeless shelter.
We are increasing emergency shelter options and adding transitional housing because housing is key. Housing allows folks to focus on other needs like finding employment, obtaining quality childcare, and taking care of physical and mental health.
Every child in Albuquerque deserves to be safe. We’ve seen the horrific consequences when children fall through the cracks. Addressing the challenge of child abuse is a puzzle that’s going to take all of us - local and state government, law enforcement agencies, faith groups, non-profit service providers, survivors and advocates - working together to address. Although no single one of us can do everything, we can each do something.
The City of Albuquerque is working to reduce and prevent child abuse by investing in children, growing the number of spots available in youth programs, connecting families who use services like housing vouchers to other resources, investing in behavioral health and addiction services, and hiring more police to grow the Crimes Against Children Unit.
We know that across the country and right here in Albuquerque, domestic violence takes a toll on families. We stand with our partners in the community against domestic violence to say it is unacceptable.
Crime statistics repeatedly show a link between domestic violence and other criminal activity including homicide, crimes against children, and youth gang involvement. In 2018, about one-fifth of homicide cases in Albuquerque were related to domestic violence. Combating domestic violence means safety for those affected today, and also ending other abuse and crimes in the future.
For nearly a decade, gun violence has become ever more pervasive and is often connected to other crimes. We are targeting gun violence with the same focus we use to target auto theft and robbery. We are adding resources, investing in new technology, and working with communities to keep guns out of the hands of criminals. We have a long road ahead, but we’re implementing new strategic approaches and will not back down.
Far too many families in Albuquerque have known the heartbreak of losing a loved one to a car, bicycle, or pedestrian crash over the years. As we focus on public safety, we have to take a hard look at the safety and inclusiveness of our transportation infrastructure.
For the residents of New Mexico, auto theft is a particular problem. Auto theft is a crime that is often connected to other crime like robberies and violent offenses. By focusing on auto theft with strategic tactical operations, we are starting to see a difference.
Quality of Life
We are taking back our public spaces by adding more lighting, addressing crime hot spots like abandoned buildings, and needles in parks.
We are owning the responsibility of APD reform and enacted the most extensive restructuring of APD in recent history, which included reestablishing a compliance bureau and getting the right people in key roles. The new leadership team is committed to reforming and turning this department around in earning public trust, restoring department morale and shifting to a culture of community protection and accountability.
As New Mexico’s most populous city, Albuquerque has the potential to impact the rest of the state. Our City’s annual budget is a reflection of our priorities – that’s why we’re working with City Council to make funding public safety the top priority. We also advocate during the year for investments from the State Legislature, the Federal Government, and others.
Tactical Programs
We’re focusing our crime-fighting efforts and resources on targeted, strategic tactical operations to make an impact.
Metro 15 Operation
The Metro 15 is a working list of 15 offenders who are considered to be drivers of crime in Albuquerque. The first list was created in November 2019. As offenders are arrested, new offenders and fugitives are identified based on their criminal history and the potential for successful prosecution. APD’s Shield Unit prepares discovery for prosecutors to use in court and work to keep offenders in jail.
Tim Keller brought together leaders from across the criminal justice system to for the Albuquerque Metro Crime Initiative. The goal of the summer-long initiative is to bring elected officials, agency staff, and behavioral health leaders together to gain consensus on a set of shared action items that will meaningfully close gaps in the criminal justice system and improve the regions’ ability to prevent and fight crime. The five session covered focus areas like early intervention; detention, diversions, and hearings; and public safety career pipelines.
The Violence Intervention Program is a gun violence reduction program that focuses on those at highest risk for becoming part of the gun violence cycles in the City. VIP Program implementation began in late March 2020, in the midst of the pandemic. The first year was a pilot year where multiple components were implemented. Components encompass a public health approach to gun violence reduction and a focused deterrence law enforcement approach to gun violence.
The Albuquerque Community Safety department (ACS) will dispatch first responders to 911 calls with or without other first responders from the police and fire departments. Community Safety responders may have backgrounds as social workers, peer to peer support, clinicians, counselors, or similar fields.
Mayor Tim Keller’s Administration is reimagining policing and taking bold action on the toughest issues in our community. We are carving our own path for Albuquerque by fighting crime from all sides and working towards meaningful, lasting reforms to make our city safer for everyone. From creating a first of its kind community safety department to restorative justice solutions, we’re sending the right response at the right time
We are attacking crime from all sides, which requires modern tactics, data, and technology.
Apply to APD
Looking for an amazing career where you can make a true difference in your community? The Albuquerque Police Department is looking for dedicated individuals with hearts for service. Look into the beautiful City of Albuquerque and our amazing Department.
Be a part of a progressive and innovative department working to save lives and property. Take the first step on your journey towards becoming a firefighter with Albuquerque Fire Rescue.
This link will take you to a site over which the City of Albuquerque has no control. The City assumes no responsibility for the content of the material contained at that site or for the accuracy of any information that is found there. The contents of any site or link not maintained by the City does not necessarily reflect the opinions, standards or policies of the City of Albuquerque, its officials, agents or employees.
