Albuquerque Police Violated Civil Rights, Justice Department Finds

[deleted-05292014 331]

http://online.wsj.com/news/articles/SB10001424052702303873604579493691278561818?mg=reno64-wsj&url=http%3A%2F%2Fonline.wsj.com%2Farticle%2FSB10001424052702303873604579493691278561818.html

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.—City police here committed civil-rights violations by engaging in a widespread pattern of excessive and deadly force during encounters with civilians who posed little if any threat, the U.S. Justice Department said Thursday.

The sharply critical findings were the result of a 16-month civil-rights investigation examining the Albuquerque Police Department's high rate of officer-involved shootings, and accusations that police too often resorted to force.

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The Justice Department found that the majority of fatal shootings by police between 2009 and 2012 were unjustified because, in some cases, officers mistakenly believed suspects were armed and police often used deadly force even when facing no imminent threat.

The report also concluded that encounters between officers and mentally ill citizens too frequently ended in violence. It offered numerous recommendations, including a review of the department's use-of-force policies and how officers interact with mentally ill individuals. The Justice Department plans to install a federal monitor to oversee the reforms of the police department that has about 900 officers.

"What we found is a pattern and practice of systemic deficiencies that have pervaded the Albuquerque police department for many years and need to be addressed," said Jocelyn Samuels, acting assistant attorney general for civil rights.

The police union has long defended officers' actions, saying they are overwhelmed dealing with people who were mentally ill and dangerous. On Thursday, Stephanie Lopez, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers' Association, said in a statement that it looks forward to learning from the Justice Department's findings.

The investigation follows a flurry of fatal police shootings in the city in recent years, including the killing of a mentally ill homeless man by officers last month, which have inflamed tensions between community members and the police.

Mayor Richard J. Berry said the report revealed some "difficult findings," but he believes the federal recommendations could successfully take hold.

"We know there are more changes to make than frankly I realized before this report came out," Mr. Berry said, adding that he remained confident in the majority of the city's officers.

For several years, Albuquerque police have faced mounting criticism from city officials and advocacy groups. Since 2010, officers have been involved in 37 shootings, 23 of them fatal—unusually high numbers for a city of about 550,000.

In 2010, for example, there were nine fatal police shootings in Albuquerque. New York City, Houston and Dallas, all considerably larger cities, each had eight that year, according to data provided by the New York City Police Department.

Thursday's report also said the Albuquerque police weren't sufficiently held accountable and the department "often endorses questionable and sometimes unlawful conduct by officers."

Police Chief Gorden Eden said he planned to meet with federal officials late Thursday to further understand how the changes could be implemented. "This is a road map to the success of the department," he said.

Even before the report, however, police officials had vowed to improve the department. Several reforms, such as requiring officers to record all interactions with residents withlapel camerasalready have been implemented.

In recent weeks anger boiled over after James Boyd, a 38-year-old troubled homeless man who was illegally camping in the foothills around Albuquerque, was fatally shot on March 16 after a standoff with police.

A video camera on an officer's helmet showed police firing at Mr. Boyd after he appeared to turn and walk away. Police said he had brandished two knives and threatened them.

The footage quickly went viral on the Internet, and hundreds of protesters poured into Albuquerque's streets on March 30. The Federal Bureau of Investigation has launched a criminal probe into the shooting.

Families of those killed by officers eagerly have been awaiting the results of the federal investigation, launched in 2012. Some of them crammed into the U.S. attorney's office Thursday, and expressed mixed emotions.

"They came in with some harsh findings and that's a good thing, but now they're going to have make sure that all the recommendations to correct the problems are carried out," said Mike Gomez, whose son Alan was shot and killed in 2011 after police responded to reports that he was behaving erratically and had a gun. The younger Mr. Gomez, 22 years old, was unarmed.

"It takes time to heal the pain in the community's hearts and minds," Ms. Lopez, the police union president, said Thursday.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

It's shameful when the police abuse their authority.

[deleted-05292014 331]

It's shameful when the police abuse their authority.

Yeah that homeless man being gunned down was sickening.....then they let the dog on him after he was obviously immobilized.

[We Keep Receipts 9,238]

Yeah that homeless man being gunned down was sickening.....then they let the dog on him after he was obviously immobilized.

There are some truly horrible stories out there. http://newsone.com/2015110/kendrec-mcdade-shooting/

This kid was shot 7 times and then handcuffed. They said he was "combative" after he was shot SEVEN times. How much of a ruckus can you cause with that much lead in you?

BTW: I don't think Danno is coming back to that other thread.

[Danno 1,228]

There are some truly horrible stories out there. http://newsone.com/2015110/kendrec-mcdade-shooting/

This kid was shot 7 times and then handcuffed. They said he was "combative" after he was shot SEVEN times. How much of a ruckus can you cause with that much lead in you?

BTW: I don't think Danno is coming back to that other thread.

What other thread was that?

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I think part of the problem is police training.

Typically they get off because "They followed police training."

[Janelle2002 3,865]

It is sad when you can't trust the people who are supposed to trust you.

[The Nature Boy 4,224]

but yet when I assert we are moving to militarized policing system that has become widely overreaching in it's duties people criticize.

Did the report say they targeted minorities or violated a wide range of different racial make ups rights.

I need to know if I should be outraged or not