Safety

The Valley CPC on October 24 ends our meetings for 2024; we will reconvene the fourth Thursday of January 2025. AND we would love to have new members to help us promote cooperative respectful interactions between law enforcement and the community in ABQ.  

There were report of shots fired at night in Duranes Park, behind the Duranes CC.  Both the Valley APD command and Sheriff John Allen have responded, with plans for increased patrols and some cameras on site.  Valley Commander Jose Sanchez also reported plans for increased speed patrols on Indian School Road to help create a safer crossing for middle school students.  If this is a concern for you, please contact CABQ Streets department.  One idea would be to have medians or a traffic plateau  to control crossing at IS and San Isidro NW.

Our meeting October 24 included the conclusion of our three programs this month [Southwest CPC, Foothills CPC, Valley CPC] on the subject of Violence Intervention Programs.  Our panel of speakers included District Attorney Sam Bregman, ACS Violence Administrator Jeff Bustamante, and APD Commander Michael  Hernandez.  The recording on the city website is available, including much discussion about the DA’s focus on Juvenile gun violence.  We remain a conduit for concerns or issues you wish to raise regarding policing or public safety through the next few months.  Have a safe and happy Holiday Season.

Group Violence intervention Program

CABQ Valley Community Policing Council

Concept began in mid-1990’s in the US, with “Operation Ceasefire” reducing gun violence by 68% after a number of years in Boston.  It is based on the idea that 50% of violence is perpetrated by 0.6% of the population, with cycles of retribution, that can be interrupted by community leaders, police, and social workers working together.

Community Policing Councils have hosted two presentations on GVI this month, October 2 and 14.  The Albuquerque Community Safety has 5 programs of GVI, including hospital based interventions talking with victims of gun violence, a general community program doing the same, opioid education and prevention, and the School based Violence Intervention Program.  The school program is one of mentorship, aimed at those with histories of, or high risk of participating in violence.  Present at 4 schools in the Albuquerque Metro, it boasts a 40% reduction in behavior leading to suspensions and 28% increase in GPA.  Expansion of the program depends on funding.

The Department of Justice has numerous programs, including Project Safe Neighborhood, with a goal of reducing violent crime in specific neighborhoods.  Other projects include United Against Hate,  the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency, and grants for local agencies which still have available money in New Mexico.  Contact Alyssa Skrepcinski at the DOJ in Albuquerque.

The Albuquerque Police Department has a Violence Intervention Unit working in conjunction with ACS above.  Alongside the offer of assistance with behavioral change from ACS, the APD unit is focused on a message of increased scrutiny and warnings against these who may plan retributive action against their attackers.  

They also work with the District Attorney and CABQ officials on Mandatory Call-Ins of paroled violent offenders.  During these meetings victims of violence speak, as do many levels of officials including law enforcement.  They can report a recidivism rate of 8% [within an unspecified time frame], which compares well with published rates of repeat offenses from national law enforcement data in the US.

For more information:  see National Network for Safe Communities

Valley CPC Chair Philip Jameson