Law enforcement officials want Albuquerque Public Schools to install a crime-reporting app on devices issued to students — but two agencies say the district has not been receptive to the idea.
“This option would make it easier for students to report crimes or dangerous situations,” said Jeffery Barnard, interim commander of the investigative services division at the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). “Students are often worried about the possible or perceived repercussions of reporting issues to authorities. This method would provide a simple method and likely assist in keeping the reports anonymous.”
Crime Stoppers Liaison Alicia Hernandez said she’s been trying to work with APS to install the “Crime Stoppers Campus” app on student devices, but she has been getting the runaround.
“It’s kind of like, ‘hey, contact this person, contact that person, oh I’m sorry I haven’t gotten back to you.’ I haven’t gained any traction,” she said.
The app is free and ready to be installed, Hernandez said.
City Desk ABQ requested an interview with APS and emailed a spokesperson with questions.
A spokesperson asked City Desk ABQ to send the names of law enforcement staff who approached APS regarding the app’s installation and the app’s name before they would answer questions. City Desk ABQ provided the names of the people quoted in this story and the app’s name but still did not receive any answers from APS.
‘A tool that could save lives’
While progress on installing an app went nowhere, Hernandez said she was able to place Crime Stoppers posters in some APS schools and charter schools earlier this year.
The posters have a code that students can scan to report a crime, but Barnard, from APD, said this isn’t the best method for students.
“These methods can be more difficult to maintain discretion when reporting an incident,” he said.
Barnard said Crime Stoppers tips from students are sent to APS Police, but depending on the circumstances — like if a school shooting threat were to come in — may be directed immediately to the 911 call center.
Hernandez said APS hasn’t given her a “no” on the app, but they also have not gotten back to her about it at all. She said she gets tips from schools each month and passes them along to APS Police.
“I think it’s a tool that can actually save lives. You never know. Like when there’s guns on campus or threats of a school shooting…a lot of our offenders are juveniles and they are in our public schools,” she said.
How Crime Stoppers Campus could help
Jayme Fuller-Gonzales, spokesperson for Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, said “the rise in violent crimes with juveniles is out of control,” and having an anonymous reporting tool such as the Crime Stoppers Campus app, would help keep schools safe for students and teachers.
“On Dec. 8, 2023, there was a homicide at Atrisco Heritage High School, where students were playing with a firearm in the parking lot after a basketball game,” Fuller-Gonzales said. “A student was mishandling the firearm and shot and killed another 16-year-old student. What if this could have been prevented?”
Fuller-Gonzales said students often know more about what happens on and off campus than adults do, especially with the influence of social media.
“If students were able to report concerns without the worry of retaliation, I believe teachers and law enforcement would be able to step in and prevent these students from going down the wrong path,” she said.
This reporting tool would also be useful in preventing crimes that don’t involve firearms on school grounds, Fuller-Gonzales said.
“Students could share other concerns they may have for their peers such as teen domestic violence, child abuse, sexual assaults, high-risk runaways, substance abuse, and drugs,” she said.
Fuller-Gonzales said BCSO cares about the youth in Bernalillo County and wants them all to succeed.
“Our children deserve to go to school and feel safe,” she said.