The Albuquerque Police Department’s new drone surveillance program has assisted in four arrests during its first month of operation, but civil liberties advocates are raising concerns about privacy protections and community input in the program’s deployment. The program, which launched in August, has conducted more than 200 flights using drones housed in strategically placed “hives” […]
Category: Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Federal judge orders DACA recipient detained by ICE released from New Mexico detention center
A federal judge has ruled that a DACA recipient whose detention has been challenged in court must be released from custody. Late Wednesday, U.S. District Judge William P. Johnson of the U.S. District Court of New Mexico granted a petition for a writ of habeas corpus directing the federal government to immediately release 28-year-old Paulo […]
Reader-supported
State Rep. Eleanor Chávez: “I’m gonna call it what it is… ICE is acting like the KKK”
A New Mexico state representative didn’t mince words when a state legislative committee overseeing courts and justice policy opened the floor for remarks on Wednesday. During the two-day meeting of the legislature’s Court, Corrections and Justice Committee State Representative Eleanor Chávez, a Democrat from Bernalillo County’s South Valley, recalled stories the committee had been told […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque mayoral candidate charged for inappropriate touching of former campaign staffer
An Albuquerque police officer investigating an incident between mayoral candidate Daniel Chavez and his former staffer found probable cause to charge him with battery, according to court documents filed in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court and obtained by City Desk ABQ. The criminal complaint, filed in July, alleges that Daniel Chavez inappropriately touched a person without […]
Posted inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County to offer free overdose response training Wednesday
Bernalillo County will host a free overdose recognition and response training this week as part of ongoing efforts to address the community’s drug overdose crisis. The Behavioral Health Education and Awareness Council will conduct the training Wednesday, Sept. 24, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the CARE Campus, 5901 Zuni Rd. SE. The session […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Española police chief addresses unease over National Guard deployment
New Mexico National Guard troops could soon be deployed to Española and Rio Arriba County to address a surge in crime and public safety concerns. Española Police Chief Mizel Garcia told members of the Courts, Corrections, and Justice Committee of the New Mexico Legislature that his department and the New Mexico National Guard have been […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque police deploy drone program, report four arrests in first month
The Albuquerque Police Department has officially launched a drone program that has already assisted in four arrests and conducted more than 200 flights in its first month of operation, city officials announced Thursday. The program, which began in August, features drones housed in strategically placed “hives” on rooftops and city facilities throughout Albuquerque that can […]
Reader-supported
4 days after mistakenly releasing an inmate, MDC finally notifies the public
Late Thursday afternoon, the Metropolitan Detention Center said it was investigating another erroneous release of an inmate that had occurred on Monday. According to MDC, an inmate booked over the weekend on three misdemeanor trespassing charges and a charge of resisting, evading or obstructing arrest was ordered released on two of the trespassing charges, but […]
Posted inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office wins national drone award for disarming children armed with loaded gun
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has won a national award recognizing how deputies used drone technology to safely disarm two young children who were armed with a loaded handgun. The sheriff’s office was awarded the 2025 Lifesaving Achievement Award and People’s Choice Award at Skydio’s Aerial Achievement Awards ceremony, according to a statement from the […]
Posted inBernalillo County
Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office nominated for national drone award after disarming children
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office has been named a finalist for a national award recognizing how deputies used drone technology to safely disarm two young children who were armed with a loaded handgun. The sheriff’s office is competing for Skydio’s 2025 Lifesaving Achievement Award, with the winner to be determined by public voting at skydio.com/vote, […]