First meeting: April 23, 2024, 5:30-7:45 PM. Location: Mesa Verde Community Center, 7900 Marquette Ave NE

Speakers: Scott Norris, Commander IAFD and Kamei Masahiro, Deputy Director APD Data Analytics. Topic: What has APD done to reduce use of force by 44% from 2020-2023, followed by questions and comments.

Second meeting: May 28, 2024, 5:30-7:45 PM. Location: International District Public Library, 7601 Central Ave NE.

Citizen Roundtable and breakout sessions: What are our goals for Use of Force in ABQ? What changes can we and APS make to accomplish these goals? How will we know that a change is an improvement?

ALL members of CPCs and citizens of ABQ are invited to these hybrid in-person and zoom meetings.

Background: Over the last 6 years New Mexico has the highest rate of officer involved shootings resulting in death in the United States [mappingpoliceviolence.org]. The rate in ABQ averages 10.9 deaths in Officer Involved Shootings/million residents/year, compared with a US average of about 3 deaths/million residents/year. Two conclusions are that we have room for improvement, and that the department seems motivated to change.

APD is already changing Standard Operating Procedures and Training to reduce Use of Force generally, as will be discussed. Our speaker Commander Norris, in CPC meetings last year, confirmed that the purpose of using lower levels of force, beginning with an effective safe police presence on scene, is to resolve situations without deadly force. There is a substantial literature explaining how this has been done, including that it is most effectively accomplished in a partnership between the police department and community. ABQ already has many of the factors in place which are known to reduce use of force generally. Are they working? If not, what is missing?

Our Goal is to discuss this problem, pose questions to the department and ourselves, and decide if a department-citizen collaboration is needed.

Contact: Kmensah@cabq.gov or pjameson5@comcast.net
Website: CABQ.gov/CPC

Zoom Address and sign-up: to be arranged