Councilors want more info on National Guard role

By Rodd Cayton

The impending deployment of National Guard troops on the streets of Albuquerque has drawn questions from some city councilors, including two who represent areas in which they will be deployed.

Councilor Nichole Rogers said her phones and emails have been “blowing up” about the National Guard, after New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham announced she would send them to the city to assist the Albuquerque Police Department in non-law enforcement roles. Rogers represents the Southeast Heights, including the International District and the University of New Mexico campus.

Rogers said the community does not want to see Albuquerque Community Safety — an auxiliary agency that responds to service calls that don’t require law enforcement officers — working with the military.

City Chief Financial Officer Kevin Sourisseau said he was unaware of any plans for such interaction. APD Chief Harold Medina, he said, intends to put guardsmen in support positions, handling duties such as prisoner transport, crime-scene security and operational assistance with the APD drone program.

Rogers said Mayor Tim Keller promised at a press conference that guardsmen would not be wearing military uniforms while on duty, but the troops are in uniform during their training period.

Sourisseau said his understanding is that the plan is still for guardsmen to not wear uniforms on duty.

“If we could make that switch — even in training — that would really help the community feel a little bit more comfortable,” Rogers said.

She said some of her constituents feel like they’re the target of this National Guard operation.

“People are panicked in my district about them being here,” she said “I don’t want to see them here, period, because I think it sends a mixed message to hear ‘crime’s down, but oh, we need help.’”

Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn, whose District 7 includes Albuquerque’s Mid-Heights including Uptown and parts of the near Northeast Heights, expressed similar concerns.

“I’m incredibly disturbed by our continued war on the unhoused, and bringing the National Guard in to continue that war is very, very upsetting to me and many people in this community,” she said.

Rogers said she’s interested in speaking with National Guard leadership about humanitarian efforts that could be shared between Guardsmen and local organizations.

She said she’s concerned that no plan for the humanitarian efforts has been shared with the council.

Sourisseau said he doesn’t know who the National Guard contact is for humanitarian aid.

“That does not mean we don’t have one,” he said. “I don’t work with APD regularly. I have not seen the plan, so I don’t know what the plan is, but I will find out. We will get you answers. But I just want to make it clear, just because I don’t know doesn’t mean someone doesn’t know.”

Sourisseau represented the mayor’s office at the council meeting’s question-and-answer session because city chief administrative officer Samantha Sengel was unavailable.

Rogers countered that Medina or someone else from the police department should have been at the meeting to present answers to councilors’ questions.

Sourisseau also promised to follow up with the APD on an inquiry from Councilor Dan Champine about whether guardsmen would carry mace for self-defense and if so, whether they would fall under APD use-of-force policies.

Councilor Louie Sanchez asked why Keller did not consult with the City Council on the decision to bring the National Guard to Albuquerque.

“I do not believe that question was given to us in advance, so we’re not prepared for that,” Sourisseau said.

Sanchez then asked whether Sourisseau thought the National Guard should be here.

“I don’t know that it matters, but if you would like my opinion, I think our police force is more than capable of handling crime, and I think our statistics show that,” Sourisseau responded.