Courts, Justice & Safety Archives

Rio Rancho man faces felony charges after removing BernCo Flock cameras in political protest

by Jesse Jones September 3, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Ten Flock Safety cameras sat stacked in the bed of a Rio Rancho man’s pickup after he admittedly removed them and livestreamed the act online. Now, he faces felony charges and says the removal was a political statement. Deputies stopped Jevon Martinez, 44, yesterday, Sept. 2, in his Ford […]

Albuquerque police officers gather evidence behind crime scene tape. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk ABQ

The FBI says ABQ had 75 homicides last year. APD reported only 65. Who is right and why can’t they agree on this big crime stat?

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — When Burqueños look at local and federal crime reports, they might be surprised to find that Washington and City Hall disagree on exactly how many people were murdered in Albuquerque last year. We wanted to know why that is and we found that even APD isn’t entirely sure why […]

An APD officer-involved shooting near I-40 and 6th street in 2024. A spike in late May 2026 shootings has city leaders questioning why the Albuquerque Community Safety department is not being dispatched to some high-risk mental health calls. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/The City Desk. Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/The City Desk

After three police shootings in five days, City Councilor questions APD, ACS mental health response rules

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Imagine calling 911 for help during a mental health crisis only to have the encounter end in death. That happened in May when the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) shot and killed a man after his family called for help because he was threatening to harm himself. The shooting was […]

Pictured is the new Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) headquarters located at 1210 San Mateo Blvd. SE. The new 10,800-square-foot facility is located in the International District, and along with housing ACS staff and programs, will also serve as a space for community resources and gatherings Photo by Roberto E. Rosales/City Desk Abq.

ABQ moves to permanently fund new safety branches without a rate hike

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Albuquerque voters may soon decide whether to modernize how the city’s Public Safety Tax is spent, all without seeing any increase in their actual tax rate. We all already pay the Public Safety Tax – 1/4 of 1%, or 25-cents on each $100 transaction – as a part of […]

Feds. sue New Mexico, Albuquerque to block anti-ICE laws

by Pat Davis May 8, 2026May 8, 2026

Albuquerque — The U.S. Department of Justice late Friday sued the state and City of Albuquerque to pause enforcement of local legislation the federal government says would impede federal immigration enforcement in the state. Federal officials asked a federal judge for an injunction prohibiting the state from enforcing House Bill 9, the “Immigrant Safety Ordinance” […]

Albuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety, Local Government, NM.news

The next time you dial 911 in ABQ, a drone might be the first responder

by Pat Davis April 23, 2026April 24, 2026

By Jesse Jones, The Paper. — Seconds after a gunshot is heard across Albuquerque, police launch a drone from a rooftop hive and speed toward the sound. The goal is to arrive before officers, with its camera already rolling, as part of the city’s “drone as a first responder” program. The Albuquerque Police Department’s (APD) […]

APD investigating hate crime in Old Town after Muslim mom with kids spit on by man asking, “Are you Christian?”

An Albuquerque mother taking photos of her children in Old Town says she was spit on and harassed all because she was wearing a hijab, and she caught it on video. Editor’s note: This story was updated Wed. afternoon after APD confirmed the name of the suspect they identified in this case. That update is […]

Courts, Justice & Safety, New Mexico State Gov., NM Political Report

New Mexico jury finds Meta guilty of putting profits over child safety, ordering $375 million fine

by Pat Davis March 24, 2026March 24, 2026

After hearing more than seven weeks of evidence, a Santa Fe jury took less than two days to decide that Meta, the parent company of Facebook and Instagram, prioritized profits over the safety of children who were targeted and exploited on its platforms. The jury set a fine of $375 million, a maximum available of […]

Albuquerque mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez has been charged with battery following an alleged incident at a Restaurant Association Board meeting in June, according to court documents filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court and obtained by City Desk ABQ.

Whatever happened to Daniel Chavez, mayoral candidate charged with touching staffer?

By Jesse Jones, City Desk in The Paper. — In September, City Desk reported that prosecutors charged Albuquerque mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez after a campaign staffer accused him of inappropriate touching, a misdemeanor battery charge. Prosecutors have now dismissed the case. The 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office dismissed the case on Feb. 20, 2026, in […]

Local Government

Photos: On his birthday, hundreds honor a life of service for BCSO sergeant

by citydeskabq March 3, 2026March 6, 2026

Hundreds gathered Monday, March 2, on what would have been his birthday at the Rio Rancho Events Center to honor Sgt. Michael Barrett Schlattman, a Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO) deputy, died in the line of duty on Feb. 23 at age 52. Schlattman joined BCSO in 2012 and was promoted to sergeant in July […]