Speaking to local NBC affiliate KOB-TV, Chief Medina attempted to give a rationale to the deployment: “Our officers spend a lot of time on scenes that they don’t need to. We have officers parked guarding violent crime scenes for up to 6, 8, 12 hours. We have officers guarding fatal traffic accidents 6, 8, 12 hours. If I can start taking 6 hours off these on-scene clears it’s going to make a huge difference, and it’s going to start swaying and getting officers back in service, and getting resources back into the community at even a faster pace.”
If that’s what’s actually going to happen, I think I’m okay with it. Most other countries around the world already have some analogue to the National Guard that do domestic policing jobs like this.
I’d prefer the state just hire unarmed contract security to do these jobs, though. It would only cost them until they can hire and train new officers that aren’t pieces of shit.
The Democratic Party controls both the New Mexico state government and the city of Albuquerque. The deployment of troops by a Democratic governor is another part of the alignment of the national Democratic party with Trump since his election, and makes clear that the Democrats will not conduct a fight against Trump and his plans for dictatorship.
The National Guard will not be engaging with the public, but rather taking on duties that drain the time of sworn officers, like directing traffic. The troops can help secure crime scenes, distribute food and supplies to the homeless population throughout the corridor, transport prisoners, provide courthouse security and run drone operations used for locating suspects or assessing incidents.
Er, those things can’t both be true. Is the National Guard not engaging with the public, or will they be directing (public) traffic, securing crime scenes against the public, distributing food and supplies to the public, transporting the public, providing security to public buildings, and running drone operations used for locating members of the public?
I think I may have found part of Albuquerque PD’s problem. They’ve forgotten who they’re supposed to serve and protect.
Ever since “Serve & Protect” was recognized by the Supreme Court as more like a set of guidelines, no one should ever misunderstand who all police answer to.
Not them.
Also, New Mexico is one of 2 states(Colorado) to have repealed qualified immunity to all LEOs within the state. They can be sued for violating the law or civ rights. The military and federal agents retain qualified immunity.
Sounds like a great step forward for the highest per GDP police killings in the US.
