By Rodd Cayton Bernalillo County is asking the public to help find the right person to serve as its next fire chief. Community members are invited to a community input session Monday. URE Consulting, a firm that specializes in executive recruiting services for police and fire agencies, plans to gather feedback from residents about their […]
Courts, Justice & Safety
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Shoplifting in Rio Rancho soars
By Jesse Jones Most crimes in the City of Vision are down, with shoplifting being one of the few exceptions. According to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, shoplifting cases have increased by 13% since 2022, likely due to economic pressures and city growth. “Shoplifting is something that we’re always after,” Mayor Gregg […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Watch: Firefighter photos, video take you inside efforts to fight massive industrial fire in North Valley
Albuquerque and Bernalillo County firefighters battled a massive industrial fire in the North Valley Tuesday afternoon. The property contained large stacks of wooden pallets which burned quickly in the wind-driven incident. No firefighters or civilians were injured, though the property owner was evaluated and released on scene, according to fire officials. Fire officials documented their […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Motor vehicle thefts fall 27% in Rio Rancho in 2024
By Jesse Jones In Rio Rancho, car thefts and break-ins have dropped, likely due to police crackdowns. The City of Vision has seen an 11.4% decrease in property crime as a whole over the past two years. Motor vehicle thefts fell 27.5% and thefts from vehicles dropped 56.5%, according to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque Police Department finished with federal oversight after years of reform
By Rodd Cayton Federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department is over. The city and the U.S. Department of Justice filed a joint motion in federal court Friday to release the department from monitoring connected to high numbers of excessive-force incidents and police shootings. On Monday, U.S. District Judge James O. Browning officially dismissed the […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Rio Rancho sees decline in violent crime, despite surge in homicides
By Jesse Jones Violent crime in Rio Rancho is shifting — while homicides have risen, aggravated assaults and reported rape cases have dropped. New crime data from the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report paints a picture of declining violent crime in the area. Violent crime in Rio Rancho dropped about 20% from 2022 […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
Falling Crime, Rising Population
By Jesse Jones Crime in Rio Rancho has dropped by just over 16% over the past two years, even as one of the state’s fastest-growing municipal populations continues to grow. According to the Rio Rancho Police Department’s 2024 Annual Report, the number of reported offenses fell from 8,681 in 2022 to 7,283 in 2024, marking […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
Albuquerque bus driver suffers broken bones after being attacked by passenger
By Kevin Hendricks — A City of Albuquerque bus driver suffered broken bones after being attacked by a passenger on the bus last week near the University of New Mexico. According to the incident report from the Albuquerque Police Department, the male driver was on his route at the intersection of Central Ave. and University […]
Posted inCourts, Justice & Safety, Westside Albuquerque
New Mexico State Police Officer arrested for DWI, crash and leaving scene
By Kevin Hendricks A New Mexico State Police officer was arrested in Rio Rancho on May 2 and placed on administrative leave following allegations of driving while intoxicated, causing a crash and leaving the scene. Hugo Diaz-Amaya was arrested and placed on leave after the incident, which occurred around 3 p.m. near NM 528 and […]
Posted inCongress & Federal Gov., Courts, Justice & Safety
‘No more stolen relatives’: Indigenous families call for justice for missing and murdered people
By Bella Davis, New Mexico In Depth “No more stolen sisters. No more stolen brothers,” advocates and families chanted during a march in Albuquerque on Monday for Indigenous people who have gone missing or died of homicide. May 5 is recognized as a day of awareness for a crisis of disproportionate violence against Indigenous people […]