City Council Bill No. R-11-275

CITY of ALBUQUERQUE
NINETEENTH COUNCIL

COUNCIL BILL NO. R-11-275 ENACTMENT NO. ________________________

SPONSORED BY: Rey Garduño

1 RESOLUTION
2 SUPPORTING A UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE INVESTIGATION
3 INTO WHETHER THERE HAS BEEN A PATTERN OR PRACTICE OF CIVIL
4 RIGHTS VIOLATIONS BY THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
5 WHEREAS, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) conducts “pattern or
6 practice” investigations of local law enforcement agencies if it determines that
7 such investigations are warranted and DOJ involvement can bring about a
8 sustained change where necessary; and
9 WHEREAS, the DOJ has begun reviewing whether a “pattern or practice”
10 investigation should be conducted with regard to the Albuquerque Police
11 Department; and
12 WHEREAS, the Mayor has informed the DOJ that “we will fully cooperate
13 and will work collaboratively in regards to any investigation they choose to
14 conduct in this matter”; and
15 WHEREAS, based on the recent spike in incidents of the use of deadly
16 force by Albuquerque Police Officers, concerns have been brought to the
17 Council about whether Albuquerque Police Officers are receiving appropriate
18 training related to the use of deadly force; and
19 WHEREAS, based upon claims by public advocacy groups of systemic
20 profiling, concerns have been raised as to whether APD Officers are receiving
21 appropriate training regarding implicit bias; and
22 WHEREAS, a local law enforcement agency cannot be effective unless it
23 reduces crime, protects individual constitutional rights and engenders public
24 confidence; and
25 WHEREAS, a loss of the public’s confidence in APD and its leadership will
26 have a devastating impact on the community; and

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1 WHEREAS, an outside investigation is necessary to restore  the public’s
2 trust at this time; and
3 WHEREAS, by conducting a comprehensive review of APD recruitment and
4 training practices and operating procedures, the DOJ can identify issues that
5 must be addressed by APD; and
6 WHEREAS, the Council expresses its support of a DOJ investigation and of
7 the Mayor’s commitment to cooperate and work collaboratively with the DOJ
8 on such an investigation.
9 BE IT RESOLVED BY THE COUNCIL, THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE CITY OF
10 ALBUQUERQUE:
11 The Council supports a comprehensive investigation by the U.S.
12 Department of Justice into whether there has been a pattern or practice of civil   rights violations by the Albuquerque Police Department.

Jewel L. Hall,PresidentDr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Center Board
PO Box 40306
Albuquerque, NM 87196-03306