The Justice Department and the City of Albuquerque have jointly filed a motion seeking court approval to terminate certain parts of the consent decree involving the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). This move follows an independent monitor's report indicating that APD has achieved full compliance with 99% of the decree's terms, marking its highest level of compliance.
The monitor's findings highlight significant progress in areas such as timely and high-quality investigations into use-of-force and misconduct. Notably, there has been a 37% reduction in APD’s use of serious force over the past four years.
Assistant Attorney General Kristen Clarke stated, "Our joint motion to terminate additional provisions of this consent decree demonstrates that the Justice Department has come even closer to its ultimate goal of ensuring constitutional and effective policing in Albuquerque." She emphasized the substantial reforms made by APD, which respect civil rights and enhance public safety.
U.S. Attorney Alexander M.M. Uballez remarked, “This partial termination proves that the hard work of the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department and the persistent advocacy from the community are achieving real results.” He noted that each terminated paragraph signifies progress toward effective policy and compliance with reform efforts.
The motion requests termination of 31 provisions where APD has maintained full compliance for at least two years. These include areas like electronic control weapons usage, crisis intervention, prevention strategies, and supervision. This is part of a broader effort over the past year to terminate 183 paragraphs or 67% of enforceable provisions within the agreement.
APD's changes include proper training on Taser use, deploying specialized officers for behavioral health crises, creating a new agency for mental health response called Albuquerque Community Safety, and improving overall supervision within the department.
The consent decree was initially entered by New Mexico’s District Court in June 2015. More information about it can be found on relevant government websites. Individuals who believe their civil rights have been violated are encouraged to submit complaints online.