ALBUQUERQUE — The U.S. Justice Department and the city of Albuquerque signed an agreement to reform the Albuquerque Police Department, which has been criticized for its use of excessive force, including unreasonable deadly force, officials announced Thursday.
This agreement marks an important step forward in addressing the unreasonable use of deadly force uncovered in our investigation into the Albuquerque Police Department,” said Attorney General Eric Holder.
Adding, “The residents of Albuquerque depend on their police department to serve their community with honor and integrity. In the overwhelming majority of cases, our dedicated local law enforcement officials – who put their lives on the line every day— do just that. But when misconduct does occur, we will never hesitate to act in order to secure the civil rights of everyone in this country. As a result of our ongoing action, I am confident that the Albuquerque Police Department will be able to correct troubling practices, restore public trust, and better protect its citizens against all threats and dangers – while providing the model of professionalism and fairness that all Americans deserve.”
On April 10, 2014, following an extensive investigation, the U.S. Justice Department issued a scathing report that found reasonable cause to believe that Albuquerque police engage in a pattern or practice of use of excessive force, including unreasonable deadly force.
The investigation was launched on Nov. 27, 2012, and was conducted jointly by the department’s Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of New Mexico.
The U.S. Justice Department found reasonable cause to believe that APD engages in a pattern or practice of excessive force in violation of the Fourth Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. The department specifically found three patterns of excessive force:
- Albuquerque officers too frequently use deadly force against people who pose a minimal threat and in situations where the conduct of the officers heightens the danger and contributes to the need to use force;
- Officers use less lethal force, including electronic controlled weapons, on people who are passively resisting, non-threatening, observably unable to comply with orders or pose only a minimal threat to the officers; and
- Encounters between APD officers and persons with mental illness and in crisis too frequently result in a use of force or a higher level of force than necessary
The department also found systemic deficiencies of the Albuquerque police which contribute to these three patterns, including: deficient policies, failed accountability systems, inadequate training, inadequate supervision, ineffective systems of investigation and adjudication, the absence of a culture of community policing and a lack of sufficient civilian oversight.
Police departments in several other cities have been targets of similar investigations, also in the wake of accusations of bias, brutality and other types of misconduct, according to a report in theNew York Times.