“Behavioral health” can be defined as “the scientific study of the emotions, behaviors and biology relating to a person’s mental well-being, their ability to function in every day life and their concept of self. Behavioral health is the preferred term to “mental health.” A person struggling with his or her behavioral health may face stress, depression, anxiety, relationship problems, grief, addiction, ADHD or learning disabilities, mood disorders, or other psychological concerns. Counselors, therapists, life coaches, psychologists, nurse practitioners or physicians can help manage behavioral health concerns with treatments such as therapy, counseling, or medication.”

http://insighttelepsychiatry.com/defining-behavioral-health/

One of the cruelest things that former Republican Governor “She Who Shall Not Be Named” did was when she ordered an “audit” of mental health services by nonprofits in New Mexico based on questionable information. The audit eventually devastated New Mexico’s behavioral health system.

In June 2013, under the direction of the former Republican Governor, the Human Services Department (HSD) cut off Medicaid funding to 15 behavioral health nonprofits operating in New Mexico. In 2014, more than 160,000 New Mexicans received behavioral health services, with most of those services funded by Medicaid, according to the Human Services Department.

After the audits were completed, the former Republican Administration said that the outside audit showed more than $36 million in over billing, as well as mismanagement and possible fraud. Under the orders of the Republican Governor, Human Services Department agency brought in 5 Arizona providers to take over from New Mexico providers.

In early 2016, following exhaustive investigations, the Attorney General cleared all 15 of the healthcare providers of any wrongdoing and exonerated all of them of fraud. Even though the Attorney General found no fraud and actually cleared the nonprofits of fraud, the damage had been done to the nonprofits. With the Medicaid funding freeze, many of the nonprofits could not continue and just went out of business leaving many patients without a behavioral health service provider. Lawsuits against the state were initiated by many of the mental health care providers.

Three of the five Arizona providers brought in by the previous Republican Administration in 2013 to replace the New Mexico nonprofits pulled out of the state. New Mexico’s mental health system has yet to fully recover.

https://www.abqjournal.com/749923/third-arizona-behavioral-health-provider-to-pull-out-of-state.html

CASES BEING SETTLED

During a July 9, 2019 press conference, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham announced that her Administration has settled several of the long-running lawsuits involving the states nonprofit behavioral health providers affected by a 2013 Medicaid funding freeze ordered by her Republican predecessor. The lawsuits as a carry-over from the former Republican Governor Administration have now cost the state millions of dollars in taxpayer money that could have been put to better use for essential services.

Negotiated settlement agreements have been reached with at least 3 of nonprofit behavioral health providers affected by a 2013 Medicaid funding freeze. The three providers the state settled with are: Valencia County Counseling Services, The Counseling Center and Hogares.

All 3 behavioral health providers were among 15 mental health nonprofits that had their Medicaid funding cut off by order of the former Republican Governor based on allegations of “potential” overbilling and fraud. The New Mexico Attorney General eventually cleared all 15 of the providers of any wrongdoing following investigations, but many were driven out of the behavioral health business.

Under the terms of the negotiated settlement agreements, the state will pay the Valencia County Counseling Services, The Counseling Center and Hogares nearly $2.7 million in dmages. The 3 providers have agreed to pay the state roughly $191,000. One of the providers will also be able to apply to the state for a reinstatement of its Medicaid provider number. Several of the other behavioral health nonprofits still have active claims under a consolidated lawsuit pending in the Santa Fe First Judicial District Court.

Human Services Secretary David Scrase had this to say about the settlements:

“We are encouraged by the progress made to resolve these cases, and we believe that these settlements are in the best interest of New Mexico and our behavioral health network.”

Notwithstanding the settlements announced, Governor Lujan Grisham said the damage to New Mexico’s mental health system caused by 2013 Medicaid funding freeze ordered by her predecessor affected numerous families and businesses and it will take years to recover from and she said:

“Quite frankly, it’s created such deep holes in the other health care delivery systems in Medicaid … that in fact it’s raised the cost in the private market for health care.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/1338147/settlements-reached-with-three-mental-health-providers.html

GOVERNOR LUJAN GRISHAM’S COMMITMENT TO BEHAVIORAL HEATH CARE

During my early teenage, high school and college years, my family dealt with a member who suffered from very severe, chronic and self-destructive mental illness who never recovered from it until his passing. I will always remember how my father was treated by health care professionals and yes at times law enforcement. Throughout my life and public service career, I made sure I knew how elected officials dealt with behavioral health care issues. When I was a prosecutor, I understood the importance of drug treatment programs and behavioral health programs as an alternative to prosecution and incarceration and returning people to be productive citizens.

In politics, more can be learned about a politician and their character by observing them in private and especially how they treat other people. A little more than 5 years ago, I attended a small fund raiser for then Congresswoman Michelle Lujan Grisham. In attendance was a person who we both knew and dealt with in the past, who was a very vocal critic of both of us in the past, and who we both understood to have mental health issues. Michelle Lujan Grisham, not knowing that I was listening and watching her, had one of her aides approach her and ask her if she wanted the person removed before she started to speak. Her response was quick and sure and it told me more about her than I had ever known. She told her aide to talk to the person, make sure he did not need anything, and then after the event, make sure he got a ride home seeing as the person walked to the event and it would be dark when the event ended. This one act of understanding revealed the true character of an elected official.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The former New Mexico Republican Governor never understood the need for mental health services and it was an easy target for her conservative anti government philosophy to freeze Medicaid funding to bring 15 nonprofits to their knees and forcing them out of business. To the former prosecutor, the answer was always increasing penalties and incarceration. It has never been fully reported on how the 5 Arizona Heath Care providers were selected to replace the New Mexico nonprofits. It has also never been revealed to what extent the former Republican Governor was involved with the selection nor what orders her office gave in the selection of the out of state providers.

What is known is that legacy of Republican Governor “She Who Must Not Be Named” is a legacy of shame when it comes to the destruction of New Mexico’s nonprofit mental health care system. Her political wrath and cost cutting measures affected thousands of New Mexico residents in need of mental and behavioral health care services and she simply did not give a damn.

After 8 very long years, New Mexico has a Governor that truly understands the need for effective and critical mental and behavioral health care services. Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham served as Director of New Mexico’s Agency on Aging under Governors Bruce King, Gary Johnson and Bill Richardson. Governor Richardson elevated the position to the state cabinet. In 2004. Lujan Grisham was appointed as New Mexico Secretary of Health where she was a champion for mental health services.

It is now on to cleaning up the many other piles of Republican Elephant dung left by the previous Republican Governor “She Who Must Not Be Named”.

Albuquerque and New Mexico for the last 4 years have been shocked and haunted with the news of the tragic and brutal killing of children by their own parents. Media reports all too often have included reports where those children had fallen through the cracks of law enforcement and the New Mexico’s Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD).

Six of New Mexico’s most notorious child abuse and neglect cases are recalled in the postscript to this article below. All 6 cases shook New Mexico and dominated news cycles when they were first reported.

This article is a deep dive into New Mexico’s child abuse and neglect crisis and what the New Mexico Legislature and Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham are doing to confront the crisis.

HEART BREAKING DEATHS

From 2001 to August, 2016 no less than 22 children in New Mexico ranging from ages of 5 weeks old to 3, 4, 5 months old to 3, 4, 5, and 11 years old, have been killed as a result of child physical and sexual abuse. (Re: August 31, 2016 Albuquerque Journal Editorial Guest column by Allen Sanchez.) More child deaths have been reported since 2016, with the most recent being a 2-week-old baby found dead on July 7, 2019 with foul play suspected. The Office of the Medical Investigator (OMI) responded to the scene and identified the baby’s injuries as suspicious. It was announced by the OMI that an autopsy on the baby was performed, but they could not determine the cause of death. APD detectives are interviewing family members as they investigate what caused the child’s injuries.

https://www.koat.com/article/police-investigating-childs-death-in-albuquerque/28313969

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-police-investigating-death-of-2-week-old-infant/

NEW MEXICO’S CHILD ABUSE RATE

A child abuse allegation is substantiated when it is determined that the victim is under the age of 18, a parent or caretaker has been identified as the perpetrator or identified as failing to protect the victim. Credible evidence must exist to support the conclusion of an investigation that the child has been abused or neglected as defined by the New Mexico Children’s Code. The types of child abuse under New Mexico criminal law are physical abuse, sexual abuse, and physical neglect.

The “child abuse rate” is the number of substantiated child victims per 1,000 children in a state during the state’s fiscal year. New Mexico’s fiscal year is July through June 30. In New Mexico’s 2018 fiscal year, the state’s child abuse rate was 15 meaning 15 children in every 1,000 children under the age of 18 in New Mexico were victims of abuse or neglect. In 2017, the rate was 25, in 2016 the rate was 17, in 2015 the rate was 18, in 2014 the rate was 16, and in 2013 the rate was 13 all rates higher than the national averages.

https://datacenter.kidscount.org/data/tables/5162-child-abuse-rate#detailed/2/any/false/37,871,870,573,869,36/any/11625

According to a report by the Children’s Bureau of the United States Department of Health and Human Services, New Mexico’s rate of child abuse and neglect has been far higher than the national average in each of the past 5 years for which data are available. In 2017, the state’s rate of maltreatment climbed to 17.6 victims per 1,000 children, or nearly twice the national average of 9.1. Only the 3 states of Kentucky, Indiana and Massachusetts had higher rates in 2017 according to the report. The state of West Virginia had the same rate as New Mexico.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1306042/nm-struggles-with-child-neglect-abuse.html

OTHER DISGRACEFUL STATISTICS

As if the New Mexico’s rate of child abuse and neglect being twice the national average were not bad or disturbing enough, the rankings and financial numbers relating to New Mexico’s children are depressing and staggering with some downright disgraceful:

According to the just-released 2019 “Map the Gap” report from Feeding America, 24.1% of children and young teenagers age 18 and younger in New Mexico, or one of every four children, are at risk of childhood hunger and food insecurity. This makes New Mexico’s ranking dead last in the country. In 2018 the “Map the Meal Gap” also ranked New Mexico as dead last, and in the 2017, the state ranked 49th. New Mexico ranks 50th for at risk of childhood in hunger and “food insecurity.”

27% of New Mexico kids live in poverty, ranking New Mexico 49th on this list. A spokeswoman for New Mexico Voices for Children, said 27% of kids in our state live in poverty, ranking the state 49th on this list, tied with Mississippi, according to data from the U.S. Census Bureau. Only Louisiana fares worse, ranked in 50th place with 28% of kids living in poverty.

75% of the state’s fourth-graders were not proficient in reading in 2017, compared to 65% nationally, and 80% of eighth-graders were not performing up to par in math in 2017, compared to 67% across the U.S.

You can read more on New Mexico’s disgraceful legacy of child hunger, illiteracy and well being at the below link:

https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/07/01/nms-disgraceful-legacy-of-child-hunger-illiteracy-and-well-being-gov-michelle-lujan-grishams-goal-to-ending-child-hunger-within-one-year/

2019 NEW MEXICO CHILD WELFARE LEGISLATION ENACTED

During the 2019 legislative session, which ended March, 15, 2019, the New Mexico Legislature struggled to enact child welfare legislation to protect New Mexico’s most innocent from child abuse, sexual abuse and neglect. Major legislation was enacted in an effort to reduce child abuse and neglect by providing services and employing a less punitive approach to families that clearly need help. All the legislation has been signed into law by Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham and the laws went in to effect July 1, 2019.

Following is a listing of the enacted legislation relating to child welfare reform as provided by the New Mexico Children Youth and Families Department:

House Bill 56: Prostitution as a Delinquent Act. All too often, children who are the victims of human trafficking are further traumatized by being arrested on prostitution charges. This bill decriminalizes prostitution by youths under 18 so they’re treated as victims who need services, not punished as delinquents. The child can be taken into protective custody, and their cases referred to the Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD). This bill will both help prevent criminal prosecution that traumatizes and ensure that the child receives the support and services they need.

House Bill 230: Plan of Safe Care. Medical studies show that prenatal drug use can significantly affect a developing fetus. Research indicates that non-punitive interventions have the most long-term benefits for the children and families. This bill brings New Mexico into line with federal requirements and will help ensure the child and their parents receive the support and services they need by giving caseworkers more options to protect the child. This measure calls for alerting CYFD whenever an infant tests positive for addictive substances. The goal is to allow CYFD to assess the family situation and provide help, without the opening of a formal abuse or neglect case. CYFD will be required to create a plan of care to help ensure the baby’s safety and address substance abuse by the caregiver. The legislation brings the state into compliance with federal requirements and make the state eligible for an extra $200,000 a year in funding.

House Bill 236: Attendance for Success Act. Among the factors which have a direct effect on a child’s educational success is their absentee rate. Studies show missing as few as two days a month can drastically affect a child’s likelihood of graduating. This bill updates the New Mexico truancy laws to establish a progressive approach to addressing a child’s absenteeism. As part of that process, CYFD will work closely with the schools, the child, and the family, to ensure that they are linked to appropriate community-based support programs and services.

House Bill 314: Children’s Advocacy Centers. Child Advocacy Centers are organizations that provide training, prevention, and treatment services to victims of child abuse and neglect, and their non-offending family members. The bill establishes the criteria that a Child Advocacy Center operating in New Mexico must meet, based on the same best practices criteria that a Child Advocacy Center must meet in order to become accredited through the National Children’s Alliance.

House Bill 376 : Creating “Alternative Response” System. This bill deals with what is known throughout the country as “alternative response” where certain reports of abuse or neglect are assigned to an alternative track rather than a formal criminal investigation or children being removed from their parents’ custody. This law establishes an “alternative response” system in New Mexico starting in July 2020.

The alternative response system will be available after the state conducts an initial evaluation after a report of abuse or neglect is made and finds that the child isn’t in immediate danger. The enacted legislation requires the state to assess the family situation and may offer or provide services, including counseling or training for parents, aimed at addressing the causes of the problem that affects the child.

If the family refuses to participate, the state can proceed with an investigation and criminal charges. Most maltreatment cases involve allegations of neglect, and in New Mexico, most neglect cases involve a caregiver with a drug or alcohol problem, according to analysts for the Legislative Finance Committee (LFC). The goal is to focus on prevention of abuse and neglect rather than prison punishment with providing services as an alternative to removing a child from a home. HB 376 was approved with bipartisan support.

Senate Bill 23: Services for Youth Leaving Foster Care. This bill provides extra services to help teens in foster care transition to adult life. Young adults who age out of foster care from 18 to age 21 will be able to enroll in to the program if they’re in college or participating in vocational programs, allowing them to continue to receive services through age 21. The phased implementation will begin extending services in July of 2021, allowing CYFD to ensure additional infrastructure is in place to fully support these newly-eligible young adults

Senate Bill 341: Transfer Complete Course Work. This bill works to ensure that a child’s educational achievements are not adversely affected by their involvement in the foster care system. It ensures that they receive full credit for all completed coursework regardless of their movement within the New Mexico primary and secondary school systems.

Senate Bill 251: Tuition and Fee Waivers for Foster Children. This bill expands the population of foster care children eligible for a full waiver of post secondary tuition and fees at state institutions to any child who was in either state or tribal foster care on or after their 14th birthday. This waiver supports the goal of SB 23 of ensuring that children in foster care have all practicable supports and services necessary to achieve their full adult potential.

https://cyfd.org/news-events/news/cyfd-secretary-applauds-governor-legislature-for-steps-forward-on-child-welfare-reform

PROTECTING CHILDREN

On June 26, 2019, Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham during her keynote address to the annual “Kids Count Conference” told the audience that that the one thing that has kept her up at night is when she learned that the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) receives hundreds more referrals based on child abuse and neglect allegations than it has the staff to handle. According to the Governor, the problem is being addressed by expanded hiring efforts to boost staffing and other temporary measures. Lujan Grisham revealed that the state has held hiring events to recruit more CYFD employees and said and the Governor said:

“CYFD is boosting hiring in their protective services division. We did a rapid hire series of events statewide.”

Governor Lujan Grisham’s enacted budget that took effect July 1, 2019 provides for an additional $36.5 million for the chronically understaffed CYFD. Under the enacted budget, 102 new social workers are to be hired by the agency’s child’s Protective Services Division.

CREATING DEPARTMENT OF EARLY CHILDHOOD

A new “Early Childhood Department” was created by the 2019 New Mexico Legislature starting in January 2020. This was a major priority of Governor Lujan Grisham. The new department will focus state resources on children from birth to 5 years of age. A major goal of the new department, coupled with other investments, will be more New Mexico children growing up to secure gainful employment as adults who don’t require government services.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Some say the New Mexico legislature did too little in this year’s 2019 legislative session to deal with New Mexico’s Child Abuse and Neglect crisis. More was done to address the child abuse crisis in last 60-day session than was done during the entire 8 years of the former Republican Governor “She Who Must Not Be Named”. The only solution offered during the previous Republican Administration was increasing criminal penalties and more incarceration and even calling for reinstatement of the death penalty.

Still, the New Mexico legislature needs and can do more. A proposal to expand New Mexico’s child abuse reporting laws failed to make it through this year’s session and it should be revisited and enacted in the upcoming 2020 legislative session. Further, and ombudsman system could be established within CYFD to handle complaints filed by foster families.

All too often after horrific crimes against a child happens, elected officials express outrage and quickly announce proposed changes in the law, propose increases in penalties, often including reinstating the death penalty for heinous crimes against children. The typical public relations approach is to demand a review of policies and procedures and vow to hold people accountable for their inaction or incompetence.

There must be swift criminal justice upon those who harm our most vulnerable and innocent. The New Mexico Legislature or Governor need to create a “Crimes Against Children Prosecution Task Force” within the CYFD in conjunction with the New Mexico Attorney General and the New Mexico District Attorneys Association, fund it and staff it with experienced prosecutors and a special investigation unit to prosecute all child abuse and child neglect cases in the State with assistance of the local District Attorneys.

New Mexico must find solutions to what contributes to or cause our most horrific crimes against children: domestic violence, substance abuse, children living in severe poverty, a poor education system, the breakdown of the family unit, the failures of our social services and child protective services, a failed mental health system, an ineffective criminal justice system, and a failing economy.

Our children’s lives depend upon it as does New Mexico’s future.

Jesus said: “Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these.”

— Matthew 19:13-14
______________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT: NOTORIOUS CASES RECALLED

Six of the most notorious cases still haunt New Mexico and New Mexico continues to struggle with child abuse and neglect cases. The public needs to remember the names of these children and how all 6 children were killed to focus on how bad things are in New Mexico and its failure to protect its most vulnerable.

Following are those 6 cases:

1. OMAREE VARELA

In 2014, 9-year-old Omaree Varela was found beaten to death months after placing a desperate 911 call to APD. Nine-year-old Omaree Varela called 911 from his Albuquerque home 6 months before his death. In the 911 audio recording, the child’s mother and the boy’s stepfather can be heard hurling verbal abuse at the child. The parents were unaware that the 911 dispatcher was listening and recording the exchange. The verbal abuse began after the child accidentally spilled food on the ground. Two APD officers went out to the residence after the child’s 911 call and made several errors that day that may have led to the child’s eventual death. The 911 dispatcher told the APD officers that they should listen to the phone call before going to the home. APD officers never went to the child’s home.

According to police logs, the officers claimed they questioned the parents for two hours. Their lapel camera showed that the officers were there for only 15 minutes. The APD Officers did not write a report in the case with one officer saying he would call the state’s Children Youth and Family Department. No call to CYFD was ever made by either APD Officer. After arriving to the child’s home to investigate the 911 call, one of the officer’s belt tape has him telling the parents: “You guys seem like a good family. … A decent family. Just be careful what you guys say when you say stuff like that. I am going to overlook it right now.” Six months later, Omaree Varela was dead. The Omaree had been stomped and beaten to death by his parent. The autopsy report detailed the child’s injuries. The autopsy report said Omaree had lost about 25 percent of his blood volume through internal bleeding.

It was recently reported that Steve Casaus, the stepfather who was convicted of killing Omaree Varela could have his prison sentence cut in half.

https://www.koat.com/article/man-convicted-in-death-of-9-year-old-omaree-varela-could-have-prison-sentence-cut-in-half/28327667

2. VICTORIA MARTENS

On August 24, 2016, in one of the most brutal murders seen in Albuquerque’s history, APD found the dead body of ten-year-old Victoria Martens in an Albuquerque apartment. The APD Officers were responding to a 911 call for a “domestic” dispute. The APD officers discovered 10-year-old Victoria Martens’ dismembered body partially wrapped in a burning blanket in her mother’s apartment. The child’s mother, her boyfriend and the cousin of the boyfriend were arrested at the scene by APD. All three defendants were arrested and charged with first degree murder, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and death, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

On August 4, 2017 it was reported that an investigation by the Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA) found that a spokesperson for APD “did lie” about the police department’s response to a CYFD referral concerning Victoria Martens prior to her death. In late January 2017, two police spokespersons told the media that officers did investigate the referrals and stated that interviews with Victoria Martens and her mother had been conducted. The APD spoke persons lied and there were no interviews of the child nor of her mother.

After close to a full year in custody by the 3 charged defendants, it was revealed by the District Attorneys Office that the confession of the mother was fabricated, the DNA evidence did not substantiate the claims and that another person actually killed Victoria Martens. The suspect remains at large.

http://www.koat.com/article/new-disturbing-details-revealed-in-victoria-martens-case/5268319

3. Jeremiah Valencia

In November 2017, the body of 13-year-old Jeremiah Valencia was found buried in a shallow grave in Santa Fe County. Prosecutors say his stepfather kept him locked up in a dog cage and tortured him, and his stepbrother killed him. An autopsy of Jeremiah’s body revealed lacerations consistent with sexual assault. The autopsy also revealed that portions of his body “had possibly been burned.” Jeremiah’s mother plead guilty for her role in the case. His stepfather committed suicide in jail.

https://www.santafenewmexican.com/news/local_news/documents-detail-alleged-torture-of-slain-boy-jeremiah-valencia/article_d1bc36eb-8a8f-53ef-8ab8-8418c338d33a.html

4. CHILD “JANE DOE”

In April, 2018, the New Mexico Attorney General launched and investigation after a school nurse reported that she thought a 9-year-old child girl was exhibiting signs of trafficking and sexual assault. The media never has released the child’s name and she is therefore referred in this article as Jane Doe. Other school employees described seeing “hickies” on the child’s neck and chest. In an April safe house interview, the child said one parent made her touch other adults inappropriately. One of the 7-year-old girl’s teachers found the girl’s underwear had caked blood on it, the child smelled of feces and urine. The teacher called the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to report suspected child abuse.

The teacher told the APD Officer and the CYFD investigator she was “gagging because it smelled of feces and of urine”. When the teacher took the child’s clothing and went to put it in a bag, she discovered the child’s underwear had caked blood on it with dried feces. The teacher told the officers that the blood was not at all normal for a child of 7 who was not old enough to be menstruating. The teacher told the police officer and the CYFD investigator it was not the first time she had to give the 7-year-old child clean cloths and it was an ongoing problem. Instead of taking and tagging the child’s underwear into evidence, the APD officer threw it into a school dumpster, saying it was not useful as evidence. The child was never taken into protective custody. The child’s father case went to trial and the child testified against her defendant father. The District Court Judge was force to declare a mistrial in the jury trial after witnesses gave testimony about a topic that was prohibited. A second trial will be held and the child will have to testify again against her father.

https://www.koat.com/article/mistrial-declared-in-case-of-father-accused-of-prostituting-young-daughter/26572591

https://finance.yahoo.com/news/girl-8-testifies-father-accused-sex-trafficking-exchange-drugs-220955803.html

5. THE 5 YEAR OLD SON OF FERNANDO AZOFEIFA

On April 2, 2019, in Farmington, New Mexico Fernando Azofeifa, 45, was charged with the murder of his 5-year-old son by smothering him to death with a pillow after a fight with the new boyfriend of the boy’s mother. (News accounts reviewed did not disclose the child’s name) The child’s mother received a text message from Azofeifa stating she would never see her son again. According to the San Juan County Sheriff’s Office says Fernando Azofeifa had been arguing with the child’s mother and pointed a rifle at a man she had with her when the two met to exchange the 5-year-old. They say he later sent a text message to the mother saying she would never see her son again. Deputies found the Azofeifa at an apartment in Farmington and hile searching the apartment, detectives found the boy’s body.

https://www.krqe.com/news/mornings/april-1st-morning-rush-farmington-man-accused-of-murdering-son/

https://www.daily-times.com/story/news/crime/2019/04/02/farmington-man-accused-murder-son-hearing-san-juan-county-court/3331579002/

6. SARAH DUBOIS-GILBEAU

On April 5, 2019, it was reported that 5-year-old Sarah Dubois-Gilbeau, who had been diagnosed as being autistic, was beaten to death by her father, Brandon Reynolds with a rubber water shoe. APD Police say Reynolds, 36, beat his daughter to death because she refused to finish her homework, he had assigned her. She had welts and bruises all over her back and was literally beaten to death. Police found blood on the walls and carpet and bruising all over the girl’s body consistent with the treads from a shoe. The child was pronounced dead at University of New Mexico Hospital. Reynolds is charged with child abuse resulting in death.

https://www.krqe.com/news/father-accused-of-killing-5-year-old-girl-for-not-doing-her-homework/

https://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/mom-says-5-year-old-allegedly-killed-by-father-had-autism/5307260/

On Sunday July 7, 2019 , it was reported that the APD Crimes Against Children Unit are investigating the death of a two-week-old infant at a Northwest Albuquerque apartment complex. Police were dispatched to the 1800 block of Indian School NW following reports that an infant was unresponsive.

Emergency medical personnel attempted treatment, but they determined the baby was “beyond help” and medical investigators determined the child’s injuries were suspicious. An APD spokesman said ““Detectives are conducting interviews to determine the course of events and what caused the injuries. … This is an open and active case.”

https://www.koat.com/article/police-investigating-childs-death-in-albuquerque/28313969

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-metro/albuquerque-police-investigating-death-of-2-week-old-infant/

https://www.abqjournal.com/1337334/apd-investigating-death-of-2-week-old-baby.html

HAVE THINGS CHANGED WITH APD?

In 2018, there were several high-profile child abuse cases in Albuquerque that were so mishandled by the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the New Mexico Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) that major policy changes in handling child abuse cases by APD were ordered by Mayor Tim Keller. Keller decided APD officers should respond to all cases reported to CYFD’s Statewide Central Intake center.

The high-profile case that prompted the APD policy changes was the case of Terri Sanchez and James Stewart, the mother and father of a seven-year-old girl, who were charge by the NM Attorney General Office with serious child abuse allegations including human trafficking, promoting prostitution, child abuse and criminal sexual contact of a minor. The facts of the case merit review as does the changes announced by Mayor Tim Keller at the time.

FACTS OF CASE REVISTED

The AG’s Office launched its investigation in April, 2018 after a school nurse reported that she thought a 9-year-old child girl was exhibiting signs of trafficking and sexual assault. Other school employees described seeing “hickies” on the child’s neck and chest. In an April safe house interview, the child said one parent made her touch other adults inappropriately. One of the 7-year-old girl’s teachers found the girl’s underwear had caked blood on it, the child smelled of feces and urine. The teacher called the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) and the Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) to report suspected child abuse.

The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) released three (3) lapel videos and recordings of the 911 calls of APD officers going to the hotel for a well fare check and the elementary school to interview the child’s teacher. A November 14, 2017 lapel camera video of an APD Officer and a Children Youth and Families Department (CYFD) investigator was released of the 7-year old’s teacher being interviewed. In the video, the teacher describes how she took the child to a bathroom located in the classroom to have her cleaned up and provide the child with clean clothing.

The teacher tells the APD Officer and the CYFD investigator she was “gagging because it smelled of feces and of urine”. When the teacher took the child’s clothing and went to put it in a bag, she discovered the child’s underwear had caked blood on it with dried feces. The teacher told the officers that the blood was not at all normal for a child of 7 who was not old enough to be menstruating. The teacher told the police officer and the CYFD investigator it was not the first time she had to give the 7-year-old child clean cloths and it was an ongoing problem.

The teacher took the child’s clothing, bagged it, and saved it for police. The teacher reported that she left the bag of the child’s clothing in a locked classroom bathroom and then left the classroom. The teacher testified in a detention hearing that when the police officer came to the school the following day, the APD officer said they could not use the underwear as evidence. She said the APD officer told her the underwear had not been kept in a secure location.

The police officer also said to the teacher “they’re going to have a field day if this ever went to court.” Instead of taking and tagging the child’s underwear into evidence, the APD officer threw it into a school dumpster, saying it was not useful as evidence. After the officer finished talking to the teacher, the APD Officer and the CYFD investigator had a discussion on what to do with the child’s clothing collected by the teacher. The APD officer actually asks the question “Do you think it is a good idea to collect them?” The CYFD investigator then tells the officer “That’s up to you guys. That ain’t my department.”

The APD officer attempted to call the APD Crimes Against Children Unit to get guidance on what to do with the clothing and apparently never received a response. APD officers did not arrest the mother or father. The child was never taken into protective custody following the November 14, 2017 interviews. On November 14, 2017 a child welfare check was made at the hotel the child was residing with her parents and the girl’s teacher was interviewed at her school.

James Stewart’s case went to trial and the child testified against her defendant father. The District Court Judge was force to declare a mistrial in the jury trial after witnesses gave testimony about a topic that was prohibited. A second trial will have to be held and the child will have to testify again against her father.

MAYOR KELLER AND APD CHIEF GEIER BACKTRACK

Initially, both Mayor Keller and APD Chief Geier insisted that no one with APD violated any policies or procedures, including when an APD officer tossed out the bloody underwear of the child. Keller and Geier then doubled down when they said that officers and detectives did everything, they could with the information they had at the time. After Keller and Geier doubled down, it was reported that when two APD officers and two detectives with APD’s Crimes Against Children Unit looked into an allegation that the 7-year-old child had blood on her underwear someone from APD in fact accessed the states Children Youth and Families (CYFD) law enforcement portal and reviewed the family history of CYFD contacts. After a week of intense media coverage Keller ordered APD to launch an Internal Affairs investigation to provide a more complete accounting of the department’s interactions related to the incident involving the parents and the child.

On June 2, 2018, the Albuquerque Journal published front-page story on an interview Keller had with the editors entitled “KELLER WALKS BACK DEFENSE OF APD IN CHILD ABUSE CASE; Mayor: ‘Bunker mentality’ stalls reform in department”.

Mayor Keller is quoted as saying:

“It was premature to go out with those kinds of statements [that no one with APD violated any policies or procedures and that officers and detectives did everything they could with the information they had at the time] … We should have waited. … What we learned is that you can’t make a few phone calls and say you have the entire picture, and we’re not going to do it again. I think we learned a lot through this. … There are still lots and lots of issues at APD. … It’s just a realization that reforming APD in reality is going to be a unit-by-unit exercise and that is going to take years.”

https://www.abqjournal.com/1179756/keller-walks-back-defense-of-apd-in-abuse-case.html

MAYOR KELLER ORDERED CHANGES

On May 18, 2018 Mayor Keller ordered APD to examine how they investigate possible child abuse or children’s safety issues in the wake of the case and the accusation of suspected sex trafficking of the girl by her parents with whom police had prior contacts.

Mayor Tim Keller ordered APD to undertake the following steps:

1. Review child abuse cases for patterns that raise red flags.

2. Work on trauma-informed interviewing techniques.

3. Use the Real Time Crime Center to identify people with repeat interactions with law enforcement or child welfare agencies.

4. Work with a state Children, Youth and Families Department task force to review prior cases.

5. Prioritize recruitment and funding for civilian and sworn positions that work on children’s cases.

6. Reach out to other law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the courts, CYFD and child advocates to coordinate crimes against children cases.

7. Evaluate policies on evidence collection.

In a press release announcing what action he wanted APD to take, Mayor Keller said:

“We’re going to do everything we can to try to prevent this from happening [ever again]. It’s going to take all of us – law enforcement agencies, child advocates, prosecutors and the courts. … Today we’re stepping up ourselves, and we’re reaching out to all these partners to address coordination for cases impacting children’s safety. We’re asking all of these partners to review how they interact on child abuse, sexual assault and human trafficking cases, including the handling of evidence. We’ve got to figure out a way to build a system that protects our kids.” (Ephasis added)

TWO OTHER NOTORIOUS APD CASES REMEMBERED

There are two other cases Mayor Tim Keller, APD Chief Michael Geier and the public need to be reminded of involving APD: Omaree Varela and Victoria Martens.

OMAREE VARELA

In 2014, 9-year-old Omaree Varela was found beaten to death months after placing a desperate 911 call to APD. Nine-year-old Omaree Varela called 911 from his Albuquerque home 6 months before his death. In the 911 audio recording, the child’s mother and the boy’s stepfather can be heard hurling verbal abuse at the child. The parents were unaware that the 911 dispatcher was listening and recording the exchange. The verbal abuse began after the child accidentally spilled food on the ground. Two APD officers went out to the residence after the child’s 911 call and made several errors that day that may have led to the child’s eventual death. The 911 dispatcher told the APD officers that they should listen to the phone call before going to the home. APD officers never went to the child’s home.

According to police logs, the officers claimed they questioned the parents for two hours. Their lapel camera showed that the officers were there for only 15 minutes. The APD Officers did not write a report in the case with one officer saying he would call the state’s Children Youth and Family Department. No call to CYFD was ever made by either APD Officer. After arriving to the child’s home to investigate the 911 call, one of the officer’s belt tape has him telling the parents: “You guys seem like a good family. … A decent family. Just be careful what you guys say when you say stuff like that. I am going to overlook it right now.” Six months later, Omaree Varela was dead. Omaree had been stomped and beaten to death by his parent. The autopsy report detailed the child’s injuries. The autopsy report said Omaree had lost about 25 percent of his blood volume through internal bleeding.

VICTORIA MARTENS

On August 24, 2016, in one of the most brutal murders seen in Albuquerque’s history, APD found the dead body of ten-year-old Victoria Martens in an Albuquerque apartment. The APD Officers were responding to a 911 call for a “domestic” dispute. The APD officers discovered 10-year-old Victoria Martens’ dismembered body partially wrapped in a burning blanket in her mother’s apartment. The child’s mother, her boyfriend and the cousin of the boyfriend were arrested at the scene by APD. All three defendants were arrested and charged with first degree murder, child abuse resulting in great bodily harm and death, kidnapping, tampering with evidence and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.

On August 4, 2017 it was reported that an investigation by the Civilian Police Oversight Agency (CPOA) found that a spokesperson for APD “did lie” about the police department’s response to a CYFD referral concerning Victoria Martens prior to her death. In late January 2017, two police spokespersons told the media that officers did investigate the referrals and stated that interviews with Victoria Martens and her mother had been conducted. The APD spoke persons lied in that and there were no interviews of the child nor of her mother as they had said.

After close to a full year in custody by the 3 charged defendants, it was revealed by the District Attorney’s Office that the confession taken by APD of the mother was fabricated by the mother in order to cooperate with APD, the DNA evidence gathered and finally tested by APD did not substantiate the claims and that another person actually killed Victoria Martens. The suspect remains at large.

http://www.koat.com/article/new-disturbing-details-revealed-in-victoria-martens-case/5268319

WHAT HAPPENS NOW IS NO LONGER APD’S PROBLEM

On June 28, 2019, it was announced by the Keller Administration with a press release that the procedures ordered by Mayor Keller in May, 2018 would be altered. It was announced APD officers will only respond to calls that are determined to be “emergency” and “priority one” calls. “Priority One” calls involve immediate danger of physical harm. All the rest of the calls will be responded to and handled by just CYFD workers. According to the APD press release, the changes will run through August to test how effective they are and then will be evaluated for success.

Under the test procedures, Statewide Central Intake (SCI) will take responsibility for calls that are not categorized as emergencies or priority one and will send CYFD counseling or family services to follow up. According to the APD news release, CYFD will continue to provide child neglect and abuse reports to APD’s Crimes Against Children Unit.

Lt. Nicholas Sanders with APD’s criminal investigations division juvenile section explained the rational for the changes as follows:

“What we were seeing was APD was receiving calls for real, real general, not even neglect, just general calls that were coming in … Some of those would be an incident where a child missed an appointment for an eye exam. Then you’re getting law enforcement out there looking at that element, when it was just truly just a family structure issue that made that child not be able to attend the doctor’s appointment and no real criminal element.”

APD did not provide the number of calls officers responded to that were reported to the Statewide Central Intake center since March 2018 when officers began responding to all calls. CYFD said they had 4,228 cases reported in Bernalillo County between then and now. Of those calls, they said 2,444 were rated as emergencies and 1,784 were rated as priority ones. Some of those calls would have been fielded by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office deputies instead of APD officers.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1334554/apd-testing-out-responding-to-only-high-priority-cyfd-calls.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

With the passage of time, Mayor Tim Keller and APD find it all too easy to announce major changes in policy relating to child abuse cases by press release no doubt believing no one cares or will take notice. For that reason, Mayor Tim Keller needs to be reminded of what he said on May 18, 2018:

“We’re going to do everything we can to try to prevent this from happening [ever again]. … We’ve got to figure out a way to build a system that protects our kids.”

It is highly likely the case involving the bloody underwear of a 9-year-old would have not have been classified as a priority one call or emergency call that lead to changes in APD policy by Mayor Keller. No doubt the July 7, 2019 shocking case involving the death of a 2-week-old baby was an “emergency” and “priority one” call under the APD altered policies. What remains to be seen is did APD or CYFD ever have any contact at all with the family before the baby’s death. What is likely is we will hear absolutely nothing from Mayor Keller regarding the recent case unless of course he expresses sorrow and condolences and announces new policies which are policies abandoned by his administration months after they were initially announced by him.

Absolutely nothing has been said by APD nor Mayor Tim Keller as to what he promised and what has in fact been done to:

1. Review child abuse cases for patterns that raise red flags.

2. What has been done by APD to work on trauma-informed interviewing techniques.

3. How the APD Real Time Crime Center is being used to identify people with repeat interactions with law enforcement or child welfare agencies.

4. What work is being done by the state Children, Youth and Families Department (CYFD) task force to review prior cases.

5. What has been done to prioritize recruitment and funding for civilian and sworn positions that work on children’s cases.

6. What has been done to reach out to other law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, the courts, CYFD and child advocates to coordinate crimes against children cases.

7. What exactly has been done to evaluate policies on evidence collection.

When it comes to Mayor Tim Keller, you can always count on him to do a good press conference by saying all the right things but never have any substantive follow up unless of course it’s to take credit for something done such as reducing crime rates. Perhaps sooner rather than later, Mayor Tim Keller will announce what he has actually done “to build a system that protects our kids” unless of course his APD Department discards his orders to change policy he has announced.

The news headlines for April 4, 5, 6 and 7, 2019 reported 8 dead, including a child of 5 beaten to death by her father with a rubber water shoe and an 8-year-old girl who was shot and critically injured in a Northeast Albuquerque home from a stray bullet, all in four days.

On April 29, 2019 the Albuquerque Journal front page headline printed in red letters read “IN BERNALILLO COUTY” followed in black letters by “114 PEOPLE SHOT IN 112 DAYS”.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1308316/in-bernalillo-county-114-people-shot-in-112-days.html

On July 4, 2019, the front-page Albuquerque Journal headline read:

“APD: DETECTIVE ON DUTY FATALLY SHOOTS ARMED MAN; SHOTS EXCHANGED DURING SURVEILLANCE WORK; DETECTIVE SLIGHTLY INJURED”.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1336377/apd-detective-doing-surveillance-work-shoots-kills-armed-man.html

On Saturday, July 6, 2019 a Journal headline read “MAN CHARGED WITH SHOOTING, KILLING HIS NEIGHBOR.” The defendant allegedly shot and killed his neighbor after they got into a fight about the neighbor’s dog. The defendant claimed the victim pulled a handgun and began shooting at the defendant’s yard. The defendant claimed he went into his house, grabbed a rifle and fired back from the entrance of his house killing the victim. No handgun casings were found at the scene from the victim’s gun. A neighbor told police he saw the defendant standing on a stack of pallets outside and he had propped a rifle looking through a scope aiming it toward the victim.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1336703/man-charged-with-shooting-killing-his-neighbor.html

On Sunday, July 7, 2018 it was reported APD is investigating 4 people who were shot in a parking lot near Gold Avenue early Sunday morning. APD Police reported finding blood and shell casings, then received information that four people were taken to hospitals throughout the city suffering from gunshot wounds. APD reported they located a vehicle with “multiple impacts and visible firearms.” The vehicle was sealed, and police were seeking a search warrant.

https://www.koat.com/article/four-people-shot-in-downtown-albuquerque/28311592

NEWS DISCREDITS CLAIMS ABQ CRIME IS DOWN

The news reports and headlines reflect just how violent Albuquerque has become. All the recent headlines undercut Mayor Keller’s July 1, 2019 press conference to announce a decline in all categories of crime for the first 6 months of 2019 compared to the first 6 months of 2018.

These are the very type of headlines that are used in campaigns against any incumbent Mayor who tries to take credit for reducing crime rates when it’s simply not true. This article is a deep dive into comparing the City’ crime statistics for the last two years to the statistics of the last 10 years.

CRIME STATISTICS ANNOUNCED

According to the statistics released during the July 1, 2019 Keller press conference, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) reported to the FBI that in the first 6 months of 2019, the property crimes of home burglaries were down and auto burglaries were down . Robberies, sexual assaults and murders were also down from the first 6 months of last year. Double-digit drops during the last 6 months in violent offenses included robberies, down, aggravated assaults, and rapes.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1335502/crime-declining-in-albuquerque-new-numbers-show.html

Following are the APD city crime data released for first 6 month of 2018 compared to first 6 months 2019 with the percentage of changes:

Auto Burglary:
2018: 4,882
2019: 3,044
Change: -38%

Auto Theft:
2018:2,890
2019: 1,750
Change: -39%

Commercial Burglary:
2018:971
2019: 710
Change: -27%

Residential Burglary:
2018: 2,046
2019: 1,242
Change: -39%

Robbery:
2018: 1,051
2019: 550
Change:-48%

Homicide:
2018: 39
2019: 32
Change: -18%

Rape:
2018: 203
2019: 144
Change: -29%

Aggravated Assault:
2018: 1,727
2019: 1,163
Change:-33%

During the July 1, 2019 press conference, Mayor Tim Keller had this to say about the statistics announced:

“Crime is still far too high, and the fight is nowhere near being over. This is something for us that is about a long-term, sustained effort that we have deep resolve around, and what we’re sharing today at least shows we believe these efforts are at least pushing us in the right direction.”

APD Chief Geier for his part said:

“[The declining numbers are encouraging and] we’re starting to see these results, but, again, we know that people are still being victimized every day.”

CITY ONE OF 10 MOST DANGEROUS BIG CITIES

On April 25, 2019, it was reported that the website Safewise named Albuquerque one of the 10 most dangerous big cities in the nation. The city ranked 8th , up from number 12 just one year ago.

According to the KRQE news report, Albuquerque had the highest property crime rate, with more than 73 per 1,000 people. The study compared trends in wealth distribution, graduation rates and ethnic diversity.

The report states that “the top 10 most dangerous metro cities have a violent crime rate that is 3.8 times higher than the national average. Albuquerque’s violent crime rate (per1,000) was 13.69.

St. Louis and Detroit topped the list of most dangerous communities, while Corrales was named the safest community in New Mexico. Cities were ranked based on FBI crime report statistics and population data for the most recent year available which was 2017.”

https://www.safewise.com/blog/safest-metro-cities/

https://www.krqe.com/news/albuquerque-ranks-among-nations-top-10-most-dangerous-big-cities/

CITY NUMBER ONE IN AUTO THEFTS THIRD YEAR IN A ROW

On June 26, 2019 it was announced in its annual report by the National Insurance Crime Bureau (NICB) that Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area for the 3rd year in the row is ranked number #1 in auto thefts in the country. The #1 ranking is despite the decrease in auto thefts. The Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area includes the 4 counties of Bernalillo, Sandoval, Torrance and Valencia counties.

The country as has seen a decrease in auto theft overall, but Albuquerque area has made even bigger and more significant gains in reducing auto thefts. According to the annual NICB report, in 2018 almost 2,700 fewer cars were stolen in the Albuquerque area than the year before, a 27% decrease. In 2017, 1,096 cars were stolen per 100,000 residents and in 2018 that figure was 780 cars stolen per 100,000 residents.

Notwithstanding the decrease in auto thefts, it was not enough to reduce the Albuquerque metropolitan statistical area as the number one ranking area in the country for stolen vehicles per capita in the country. While the Albuquerque area had fewer stolen vehicles in 2018 than in 2017, the city of Albuquerque saw a slightly higher decrease of 29%. According to APD data, there have been 1,135 fewer stolen vehicles so far this year over the same time period last year. (2019: 1,750 compared to 2018: 2,890)

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-comes-in-1-in-auto-thefts-nationally-again/28188855

https://www.abqjournal.com/1333048/abq-auto-thefts-drop-but-metro-still-no-1.html

CITY’S 2008 TO 2018 CRIME STATISTICS

Albuquerque’s FBI Uniform Crime statistics for the years 2008 to 2018 reveal just how bad violent crime has increased in Albuquerque over the last 10 years. Violent crimes include murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assaults. Property Crimes include burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft. The hard numbers for the last 10 years reflect that crime has not declined much and that like a waive on a beach, it had “ebbed and flowed” over the years.

The number of HOMICIDES reported each year from 2008 to 2018 are:

2008: 38
2009: 56
2010: 42
2011: 35
2012: 41
2013: 34
2014: 30
2015: 42
2016: 61
2017: 72
2018: 65

The number of RAPES reported each year from 2008 to 2018 are:

2008: 370
2009: 326
2010: 338
2011: 264
2012: 278
2013: 439
2014: 402
2015: 404
2016: 381
2017: 473
2018: 461

The number of AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS reported each year from 2008 to 2016 are:

2008: 2,960
2009: 2,597
2010: 2,971
2011: 2,910
2012: 2,740
2013: 2,803
2014: 3,121
2015: 3,273
2016: 3,846
2017: 4,213
2018: 3,885

The total number of VIOLENT CRIMES (murder, rape, robbery and aggravated assault combined) reported each year from 2008 to 2018 were:

2008: 4,718
2009: 4,082
2010: 4,291
2011: 4,207
2012: 4,151
2013: 4,322
2014: 4,934
2015: 5,405
2016: 6,245
2017: 7,686 (Aggravated Assaults: 4,213, Non-Fatal Shootings: 470)
2018: 6,789 (Aggravated Assaults: 3,885, Non-Fatal Shootings: 491)

The total number of ROBBERIES reported each year from 2008 to 2018 are:

2008: 1,350
2009: 1,103
2010: 940
2011: 998
2012: 1,092
2013: 1,046
2014: 1,381
2015: 1,686
2016: 1,957
2017: 2,930
2018: 1,887

The total number of AUTO THEFTS reported each year from 2008 to 2018 are:

2008: 4,672
2009: 3,399
2010: 2,773
2011: 2,823
2012: 2,743
2013: 3,005
2014: 3,558
2015: 5,179
2016: 7,710
2017: 7,692
2018: 5,341

The total number of BURGLARIES reported each year from 2008 to 2018 are:

2008: 6,137
2009: 6,376
2010: 5,465
2011: 5,985
2012: 6,677
2013: 7,297
2014: 6,123
2015: 5,996
2016: 6,236
2017: 7,002
2018: 5,765

The total number of PROPERTY CRIMES (burglary, larceny and motor vehicle theft) reported each year from 2008 to 2018 were:

2008: 32,039
2009: 29,238
2010: 26,493
2011: 28,109
2012: 29,804
2013: 30,614
2014: 30,523
2015: 34,082
2016: 38,645
2017: 41,350
2018: 34,481

The COMBINED STATISTICS FOR PART I CRIMES (the number of incidents reported) each year from 2008 to 2018 are as follows:

2008: 36,757 total reported crimes
2009: 33,329 total reported crimes
2010: 30,784 total reported crimes
2011: 32,316 total reported crimes
2012: 33,955 total reported crimes
2013: 34,936 total reported crimes
2014: 35,457 total reported crimes
2015: 39,487 total reported crimes
2016: 46,665 total reported crimes
2017: January to June: 24,770 (Full year numbers unavailable)
2018: 42,091

SOURCES:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/annual-reports/uniform-crime-reports

https://www.dps.nm.gov/index.php/107-uniform-crime-reports

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/police-crime-stats-2019-03-18.pdf

2017 AND 2018 CRIME STATISTICS SHOW DECLINE

Comparing full year statistics for 2017 and 2018 shows a decline in the percentages for one year. Review of the city’s crime statistics for the entire year of 2018 show the largest decreases in the property crimes of auto burglary, auto theft, commercial burglary, and residential burglary, and robbery.

The crime statistics for the entire years of 2017 and 2018 are as follows:

VIOLENT CRIME FOR 2017 AND 2018

HOMICIDES:
2017: 72
2018: 65
Change: -10%

RAPE:
2017: 473
2018: 461
Change: -3%

AGGRAVATED ASSAULTS FOR 2017 AND 2018
2017: 4,213
2018: 3,885
Change: -8

NON-FATAL SHOOTINGS FOR 2017 AND 2018:
2017: 470
2018: 491
Change: +4

ROBBERY FOR 2017 AND 2018:
2017: 2,930
2018: 1,887
Change: -36%

PROPERTY CRIMES FOR 2017 AND 2018:

AUTO BURGLARY:
2017:12,999
2018: 9,218
Change: -29%

AUTO THEFT:
2017: 7,692
2018: 5,341
Change: -31%

COMMERCIAL BURGLARY:
2017: 2,298
2018: 1,918
Change: -17%

RESIDENTIAL BURGLARY:
2017: 4,704
2018: 3,847
Change: -18

https://www.abqjournal.com/1261926/apd-release-crime-stats-for-2018.html

DECLARING GUN VIOLENCE “PUBLIC HEALTH THREAT”

On April 8, 2019, Mayor Keller and APD Officials announced several proactive and reactive initiatives designed to combat gun violence in the City and declaring gun violence a “public health risk.”

The specific initiatives announced include:

1. Using data from APD’s Real Time Crime Center to focus on areas with a heavy concentration of gun violence and identify any patterns and putting more officers in those areas.

2. Forming units of officers called Problem Response Teams in each area command. The Problem Response Teams will be made up of officers who don’t take calls for service but will be available to help community members as they need it. After a violent crime, the teams, along with Albuquerque Fire Rescue, will visit the neighborhood and provide resources or information.

3. Identifying those who are selling firearms illegally to felons or juveniles.

4. Working with agencies and universities to conduct research on gun violence as a public health issue.

5. Implementing a standardized shooting response protocol that police must follow within the first 72 hours of a reported crime. APD intends to collect and test all casings at shooting scenes and intends to purchase new equipment and technology that can assist detectives in investigating gun crimes.

6. APD is in the process of hiring additional personnel for the crime lab and securing technology that will increase efficiency around DNA testing including automating the entire unit. The unit that tests DNA and the unit that tests latent fingerprints will be split in an attempt to reduce a backlog of evidence that needs to be tested.

7. Increasing the use of the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network and the Problem Response Teams. The National Integrated Ballistic Information Network program is used to identify which guns have been used in multiple crimes by analyzing all casings they can find at violent crime scenes where a firearm has been discharged.

8. Use of a placard police officers can hang on doors to encourage residents to call with information about a crime.

https://www.petedinelli.com/2019/04/09/four-very-violent-days-in-a-violent-city-apd-declares-violent-crime-as-public-health-issue/

https://www.abqjournal.com/1301057/police-to-focus-on-gun-violence.html

INCREASING SIZE APD POLICE FORCE

APD’s intends to spend $88 million dollars beginning last year in the 2018-2019 fiscal year, over a four-year period, with 32 million dollars of recurring expenditures, to hire 322 sworn officers and expand APD from 878 sworn police officers to 1,200 officers. The massive investment is being done in order to full fill Mayor Tim Keller’s 2017 campaign promise to increase the size of APD and return to community-based policing as a means to reduce the city’s high crime rates. Last year’s 2018-2019 fiscal year budget provided for increasing APD funding from 1,000 sworn police to 1,040. This year’s 2019-2020 fiscal year budget has funding for 1,040 sworn police.

On June 17, 2019, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) announced that is has hired 116 police officers during the first full budget year of the Mayor Tim Keller Administration. A very large percentage of those officers are lateral hires from other departments. It is projected that with the additions APD will reach 957 sworn officers by the end of July, 2019 and reach 981 by the end of the summer. For the 2019-20129 fiscal year that begins July 1, 2019 APD has been is budgeted for 1,040 full time sworn officers.

According to an APD news release, about two-thirds of the 116 new officers are already patrolling the streets and taking calls for service. The remainder are expected to be on duty by the end of the summer. Of the 957 police officers APD now has, 533 are patrolling the streets taking calls for service.

https://www.koat.com/article/116-new-officers-hitting-abq-streets/28069973

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

The feel good news is that the hard numbers reflect that for ONE full year of 2017 to 2018 and the first 6 months of 2019 crime is going down in the major categories. The feel bad news is the 10-year statistics confirms crime is not down, especially when it comes to violent crimes. In a nutshell, violent crime is not down and the statistics need a dramatic turnaround before people will feel safe.

During their July 1, 2019 press conference, Mayor Tim Keller and APD Chief Michael Geier to their credit did not claim victory in reducing the crime rates in Albuquerque. That would have been a major political mistake given the communities’ anger over crime in general. The hard numbers released do not yet reflect a trend that can be relied upon for any sort of a victory lap on their part.

Crime has spiked so much in Albuquerque for the last 10 years that , even with a 30% or more decrease in each category as announced by Mayor Tim Keller and Chief Michael Geier, the numbers are still way too high, especially in violent crime and they both know it. Violent crime and auto thefts are at unacceptable levels. A sign of the times of how bad things have gotten in the City is when no one believes Mayor Tim Keller and APD Chief Geier’s when they both say that crime is going down.

Albuquerque’s population has remained relatively the same for the last 4 years yet the hard number of crimes continue to rise. In other words, the city is experiencing more incidents of crime with fewer residents. When a city is ranked for crime with FBI crimes statistics , it uses a per capita basis which is so many crimes per 100,000 population and it tends to skew the numbers toward the worst-case scenario.

During the July 1, 2019 press conference APD Chief Geier seem to acknowledge the problem when he called the numbers encouraging, but went on to say many in the community have not personally felt the progress. Chief Geier said “We’re starting to see these results, but, again, we know that people are still being victimized every day.”

When it comes to crime, public perception overrides reality. If you’re a victim of a crime, it’s hard to accept the statistics that crime is down. For any politician to claim credit for reduction in crime is always very foolish and dangerous given how volatile crime really is. During winter months, crime tends to go down and during summer months, it tends to spike, very much like a wave on a beach flowing in and then flowing out.

It is more likely than not that the reduction in the overall percentages of crime can be attributed in part to APD adding 116 more police officers to the force in one year, with at least 70 experienced laterals recruited from other departments. More cops mean more patrolling the streets and making more arrests. APD will be spending $88 million over 3 more years to hire 300 more cops to patrol streets assuming they can actually recruit and hire that many. There have been no reports on how successful APD has been declaring gun violence a “public health risk” and if the announced proactive and reactive initiatives have been at all successful.

A declining trend in crime would be reflected in a 4 to 5 year period . The question that must be asked is “Can APD sustain the declining numbers?” The answer is no one really knows for sure. It’s “not a sure bet” that simply hiring more cops will bring the crime rates down. Increasing the number of sworn police could actually increase the numbers because more cops mean more arrests and prosecutions.

No doubt Mayor Tim Keller is hoping crime will decline significantly before he runs for another term in 2021. Keller campaigned on the issue of making public safety the number one priority of his administration, returning to community-based police, reducing crime and implementing the Department of Justice reforms. If he does not deliver on his promises, even after spending millions to increase the size of APD, he may not get elected to another term.

Mayor Keller and APD Chief Geier need to continue their efforts. Only time will tell if crime is indeed going down and what headlines will be used in the 2021 Mayor’s race.

_________________________________________________

POSTSCRIPT:

This blog article generated a lot of reaction on the web page from Keller defenders who are way too sensitive. The article points out crime rates have gone down for 18 months and what is being done. Having press conferences every 3 months to announce declining crime rates when the national rankings still have city in top 10 for violent crime and auto thefts is trying to make a mole hill (declining rates) into a mountain (acceptable crime levels). The article also points out what Keller and Geier said about the need to do more and it is suggested that people don’t try to make something bigger than it is. The article gave all the good news for the last year and a half, the Mayor’s comments as well as the policy to declare violent crime a public health threat and outlines the gains in APD staffing.

What was said at the end of the article is “The feel good news is that the hard numbers reflect that for ONE full year of 2017 to 2018 and the first 6 months of 2019 crime is going down in the major categories. The feel bad news is the 10-year statistics confirms crime is not down, especially when it comes to violent crimes. In a nutshell, violent crime is not down and the statistics need a dramatic turnaround before people will feel safe. …. Mayor Keller and APD Chief Geier need to continue their efforts. Only time will tell if crime is indeed going down and what headlines will be used in the 2021 Mayor’s race”. No doubt Keller will be pointing to his own positive headlines.

The sources for the above statistics can be reviewed at the below links:

For 2008 to 2016 statistics see:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/annual-reports/uniform-crime-reports

https://www.dps.nm.gov/index.php/107-uniform-crime-reports

For 2017 statistics see:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/police-crime-stats-2019-03-18.pdf

https://www.abqjournal.com/1224917/fbi-abq-crime-rate-up-in-2017.html

Uniform Crime Reports

For 2018 statistics see:

https://www.cabq.gov/police/documents/police-crime-stats-2019-03-18.pdf

https://www.abqjournal.com/1261926/apd-release-crime-stats-for-2018.html

https://www.dps.nm.gov/index.php/107-uniform-crime-reports

On Wednesday, July 3, 2019, ABC NEWS and the WASHINGTON POST released a poll conducted after the two 2020 Presidential Democratic debates. The poll is an in-depth analysis of how the Democratic candidates did during the debate and the type of bump their performances helped with their candidacies.

Quoting the poll analysis: “[The] ABC News/Washington Post poll was conducted by landline and cellular telephone June 28-July 1, 2019, in English and Spanish, among a random national sample of 1,008 adults. Results have a margin of sampling error of 5.5 points, including the design effect, for the sample of 460 Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents covered in this report. Partisan divisions in the full sample are 29-23-37 percent, Democrats-Republicans independents. The survey was produced for ABC News by Langer Research Associates of New York, N.Y., with sampling and data collection by Abt Associates of Rockville, Md.”

You can review the entire report analysis entitled “Harris Scores in Debate Performance While Electability Keeps Biden in Front” with the bar graphs, percentage numbers and polling tabulations at the blow link:

https://www.langerresearch.com/wp-content/uploads/1206a12020Democrats.pdf

Following is the written poll analysis of the ABC News/Washington Post written in full by Gary Langer of Langer Research Associates with the bar graphs and numbers edited out of the written analysis:

“A wide advantage in perceived electability boosts Joe Biden in the race for the Democratic presidential nomination, but he lags in having new ideas, is challenged by Bernie Sanders and faces a debate-energized Kamala Harris in a new ABC News/Washington Post poll. In current preferences, 29 percent of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents support Biden and 23 percent favor Sanders, with 11 percent apiece for Harris and Elizabeth Warren. The number of undecided potential voters has dropped sharply after the first debates, with gains in support for each of these candidates. Others are in the low single digits, at best.

Given the time to register to vote in advance of the caucus and primary season, these results are among all leaned Democrats. Among those who are registered now, Biden goes to a 30-19 percent advantage over Sanders, with 13 percent for Harris and 12 percent for Warren. Crosscurrents underlie candidate preferences in this poll, produced for ABC by Langer Research Associates. A broad plurality, 45 percent, says Biden has the best chance to beat Donald Trump in the general election, but only 18 percent say he has new ideas, trailing Sanders, Warren and Harris alike. At the same time, 41 percent say Harris stood out in her debate performance, easily the leader in this gauge, a wide 15 to 22 percentage points ahead of Biden, Sanders and Warren. And among those who actually watched both Democratic debates last week, the number picking Harris as a standout performer soars to 72 percent, well above any of her competitors.

An impact is apparent: Among the half of leaned Democrats who did not watch either of the two nights of debates, just 5 percent support Harris for the nomination. Among those who watched the debate in which she appeared, by contrast, her support swells to 20 percent. That places her numerically second among Thursday-night viewers; Biden has 28 percent support in this group; Warren, 17 percent; and Sanders, 15 percent. Warren also does better among viewers of her debate than non-viewers, 17 vs. 8 percent support. Showing strength among highly engaged leaned Democrats, she reaches 22 percent, virtually matching Biden’s 25 percent, among those who watched both debates. There’s no meaningful difference in Biden’s support across debate-watching groups, and Sanders gets the booby prize – higher support among those who did not watch the debates, 26 percent, vs. 15 percent among those who watched the debate in which he appeared and 10 percent among those who watched both nights. Comparative inattention fits with his younger support profile; 18- to 29-year-olds, his best group, are least likely to have tuned in.

These results are from a question in which respondents were read a list of Democratic candidates. Asking preferences in an open-ended format produces similar results (25-18-9-9 percent, Biden-Sanders-Harris-Warren), with gains for each in comparison with April – Biden +8 points, Sanders +7, and Harris and Warren both +5. Those with no opinion dropped sharply, 35 percent in April compared with 19 percent now (and 6 percent when the full list is read). In another measure, intended participation is high: Seventy-two percent of leaned Democrats say they’re certain to vote in their state’s primary or caucus. That’s up from 56 percent in November 2015, when it was first asked in the last cycle, a race that pitted just two prime candidates. Current results are similar to what they were in November 2007, the last crowded (albeit not this crowded) Democratic race.

DEBATE REAX

Harris’ debate rating comes among those who actually tuned in. Respondents were asked which candidates stood out as having done an especially good job in the debates, with up to four names accepted. Among those who watched both nights, a vast 72 percent picked Harris for a standout performance. Fewer but 58 percent named Warren. Neither Biden nor Sanders, nor others, remotely approach these levels. (Pete Buttigieg comes closest, cited by 31 percent.)

GROUPS

Notably among groups, while Harris challenged Biden on the subject of race in their debate, his support is especially strong among blacks, 41 percent, 12 points higher than it is overall. Harris’ support, by contrast, is not differentiated by race and ethnicity – 11 percent among blacks and an identical 11 percent among all leaned Democrats. Warren, for her part, has notably low support among nonwhites, 5 percent. Biden’s support continues to skew older, Sanders’ younger: Among leaned Democrats age 50 and older, Biden leads Sanders by a broad 39-11 percent. Among those younger than 50, Biden’s support falls to 21 percent and Sanders’ rises to 32 percent. (There are no such age gaps in support for Warren or Harris.)

Among other group differences, Sanders’ support plummets among the most-educated group, while Warren’s rises with education. And by ideology, Warren does better with liberals compared with moderates. (Biden’s better number among moderates than liberals isn’t statistically significant.)

While the contest pits prominent Democratic women and men alike, there are no substantial differences in candidate choice on the basis of gender. Men divide 26-26-10-9 percent among Biden-Sanders-Harris-Warren; women, by a similar 30-21-12-13 percent.

WHO ELSE?

Former Vice President Biden and 2016 candidate Sanders are, of course, the best-known figures in the Democratic race. While they’re in front, it’s striking that most Democrats and Democratic leaners are not entirely wedded to their current choices; just about a quarter, 26 percent, say it’s “extremely” important to them that their candidate wins the nomination. That includes about the same number just among Biden’s supporters, 29 percent.

Still, asking second-choice preferences finds another advantage for Biden: Among those who don’t support him now, 33 percent pick him as their next-choice candidate. By comparison, among those who don’t currently favor Sanders he’s second choice for 24 percent. Warren is second choice for 17 percent of those who don’t back her now, as is Harris for 16 percent.

That said, another Biden advantage – being seen as the candidate best able to defeat Trump – is unlikely to be all it will take for Biden to prevail. It’s notable that, among those who pick Biden on this measure, 45 percent nonetheless support another Democratic candidate.

ISSUES

Health care is the top-rated issue for Democrats and Democratic leaners, and they side heavily with a so-called Medicare-for-all system, a central topic of the debates. Seventy-seven percent of leaned Democrats support a government-run, taxpayer-funded universal health care system like Medicare, essentially the same as in an ABC/Post poll back in 2003. Support remains high, 66 percent, even if it meant doing away with private insurance. Health care, moreover, is cited by 89 percent of leaned Democrats as a top issue in their vote in the general election, leading a list of nine items.

Eighty-five to 79 percent cite gun violence, issues of special concern to women, immigration, global warming and the economy as highly important, followed by foreign policy, 72 percent; abortion, 69 percent; and taxes, 60 percent. Preference in handling two of these issues is generally similar to candidate support overall.

On health care, 27 percent of leaned Democrats pick Sanders as the candidate they trust most and 25 percent pick Biden, followed by 13 percent for Warren and 7 percent for Harris. On immigration, another focus of the debate, 21 percent pick Biden; 17 percent, Sanders; 12 percent, Harris; and 8 percent Warren, with an additional 8 percent favoring Julián Castro.

Viewed another way, Biden and Sanders are essentially tied among leaned Democrats who focus on any of five top issues – health care, issues of special concern to women, immigration, global warming and the economy. One remaining item differentiates them – gun violence, on which Biden has a 10-point advantage. Warren and Harris compete for third position on all these.

While most issue preferences don’t sharply differentiate candidate choices, there are some differences in issue emphasis among groups. The economy, for example, is rated as highly important by 85 percent of those without a college degree vs. 67 percent of college graduates, and by 84 percent of those with less than $50,000 in annual household incomes vs. 70 percent of those in the $100,000-plus bracket.

GENDER

Some gender gaps also emerge. Democratic and leaned-Democratic women are 12 points more apt than men to cite health care as highly important, 95 percent vs. 83 percent. Women are 17 points more likely than men to cite taxes as a major issue, 69 vs. 52 percent. And in the widest gap, women are 23 points more likely to call abortion a top issue, 79 vs. 56 percent.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALSIS

Based on the ABC NEWS and the WASHINGTON POST poll, former Vice President Joe Biden did not do as well as was expected and California Senator Kamala Harris has closed the gap on him. Sanders is dropping and Warren is also closing the gap. No doubt Biden will be finding that henceforth, things are going to get tougher within his own party to win the nomination.

Notwithstanding, polls are nothing more than a snapshot of public opinion at the time, and one excellent debate performance or one poor debate performance does not win a nomination, especially in a crowded field.

The next Democrat debate will have fewer on stage in that many will not secure an onstage debate spot if they do not have a certain percentage of support in the polls and have not raised campaign money from a certain number of donors. You can anticipate more break out performances, even from Joe Biden at the next debate.

It’s going to be a very long primary year. Ultimately the Democratic party need to get behind the most electable candidate no matter who it is, otherwise Trump will be elected a second term.

Originally, there were 16 candidates who were running in the 4 City Council seats that will be on the November 5, 2019 ballot with 12 of those candidates seeking public financing. The qualifying periods to collect qualifying $5 donations and the 500 nominating petition signatures are now over.

All city council candidates were required to collect 500 qualifying petition signatures from registered voters. The number of $5.00 donations needed in each city council district to qualify for public financing differs based on voter registration. The breakdown is: in District 2: 413 donations, in District 4: 393 donations, in District 6: 323 donations and in District 8: 425 donations.

CANDIDATES FOR CITY COUNCIL

District 2 incumbent City Councilor Isaac Benton has 5 opponents who qualified for the ballot seeking to replace him. The candidates are: Steve Baca (D), Joseph Griego (D), Robert Raymond Blanquera Nelson (D), Zack Quintero, (D) and Connie Vigil, (I). David B. Bearshire failed to gather the necessary petition signatures. 6 of 7 candidates in District 2 originally sought public financing and 4 have qualified: Issac Benton, Joeseph Griego, Robert Raymond Blanquerq Nelson and Zachery A. Quintero.

District 4 has 4 candidates who qualified for the ballot and running to replace Brad Winter. Those candidates are: Brook L. Bassen, Athena Ann Christodoulou, Ane C. Romero, Hailey Josselyn Roy. Mary Sue Flynt did not qualify for the ballot. 4 candidates in District 4 sought public financing with 3 securing the necessary $5.00 qualifying donations and they are Brook L. Bassan, Ane C. Romero and Haley Josselyn Roy.

District 6, incumbent City Councilor Pat Davis has one challenger and she is Gina Naomi Dennis (D) who is an attorney, neighborhood activists and who was a Bernie Sanders delegate in 2016 to the Democratic National Convention. Both Davis and Dennis qualified for the ballot and secured public finance.

District 8 City Councilor Trudy Jones has one challenger and she is S. Maurreen Sakowin who qualified for public financing. Trudy Jones has elected to finance her campaign with private financing and has never sought public financing of her campaigns. Both Trudy Jones and S. Maurreen Sakowin collected the 500 petition signatures.

RANK VOTING SYSTEM REJECTED BY CITY COUNCIL

Currently, under Albuquerque’s election code, a candidate for city councilor must receive at least 50% plus 1 of the vote to win an election without a run off outright. If no candidate receives 50% plus one of the vote, the top two finishers face off in a separate runoff election and whoever gets the 50% majority vote wins the election. Democrat City Councilors Isaac Benton and Pat Davis, both running for reelection, and Republican City Councilor Brad Winter, who is not running for reelection, introduced and ordinance adopting a rank choice voting system for the upcoming November 5, 2019 election. Ranked-choice voting is also known as “instant runoff”. Rank choice voting is an alternative to the city’s existing runoff election system and it is used in Santa Fe municipal elections.

With rank choice voting, voters rank all candidates in a race by preference. If, after the initial tally, no candidate has at least 50% of the first-place votes, the threshold required to win a City Council races, the candidate with the fewest first-preference votes is eliminated and the ballots are counted again. The process continues until a single candidate emerges with a majority of votes, thus eliminating the need for a separate runoff election. In other words, the ultimate winner of the election is determined with a mathematical calculation of votes listed at once on a single ballot. An elimination process is used and it eliminates the need for a runoff election and all campaigning time and costs associated with a runoff.

On June 18, 2019, the Albuquerque City Council voted 4 to 5 not to have “rank choice voting” with Isaac Benton, Pat Davis, Brad Winter and Diane Gibson voting YES and with Cynthia Borrego, Don Harris, Trudy Jones, Klarissa Peña and Ken Sanchez voting it NO. Notwithstanding the Council voting it down, a competing proposal is still pending to ask voters on the November 5, 2019 ballot question if they approve of moving to a ranked-choice system for 2021 and the ballot question will have at least one more hearing.

https://www.abqjournal.com/1329804/city-council-turns-down-move-to-use-rankedchoice-voting-ex-but-voters-may-get-their-say-on-the-issue-in-november.html

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Rank choice voting or instant runoff gives incumbents and unfair advantage because of their name identification. Ranked choice voting is a dramatic overhaul of the city election process and for that reason it should be placed on the November 5, 2019 ballot for voters to decide if it should be used for future elections.

Now that all the candidates have secured their positions on the ballot, the races no doubt will heat up and voters can expect knocks on the door from candidates seeking their support. All too often, it is only during election time that voters see and hear personally from their City Councilors. Usually the only time voters see their City Councilors is in news reports or at press conferences to take credit for something they had little to do with.

Voters need to take advantage of the opportunity to ask the candidates where they stand on the issues that are critical to their districts. Hopefully voters will ask Isaac Benton, Pat Davis and Trudy Jones why they were such strong supporters of the disastrous ART Bus project and why they allowed the destruction of one of the finest police departments in the country by failing to exercise their oversight authority and calling into question the previous administration’s management of APD.

When it’s all said and done, voters must understand who they are voting for and if a candidate does indeed represent their best interests and not the candidates own personal agenda. One question that should be asked of the candidates is if they are committed to serving their full 4 year term and not run for higher office before serving the term which has happened most recently with elected officials.