Director of U.S Marshal Service is Summoned to ABQ to help Capture Those with Warrants
By: ABQRAW staff
Posted: 1/11/2023 @ 4:30PM
The following information was provided by one of APD's civilian PIO's Rebecca Atkins:
ALBUQUERQUE – APD Chief Harold Medina and Mayor Tim Keller emphasized the need for a strong partnership to address Bernalillo County’s warrant backlog during a meeting today with U.S. Marshals Service Director Ronald L. Davis.
Albuquerque is one of 10 cities that Director Davis is visiting to meet with local law enforcement leaders and discuss crime challenges. The guests at today’s meeting included State Police Chief Tim Johnson, BCSO Sheriff John Allen, U.S. Marshal for the District of New Mexico Sonya K. Chavez, and U.S. Attorney for the District of New Mexico Alex Uballez, among many others.
The group discussed the urgent need to tackle the nearly 5,000 outstanding felony warrants in Bernalillo County
“The U.S. Marshals Service is a strong crime-fighting partner,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “With their help, we can clear this warrant backlog and make meaningful and immediate progress in lowering crime.”
“This warrant backlog has always existed,” said Chief Harold Medina. “We need to be bold think outside of the box to clear these warrants. These drivers of crime need to be in jail, not roaming the streets and thinking nobody is looking for them.”
“The benefit of this visit was to understand what is happening in New Mexico and how the U.S. Marshals Service can assist in addressing violent crime in the state,” said the Honorable Ronald L. Davis, Director U.S. Marshals Service. “The more we are strategic, the more we are evidence-based, the more that we are community driven and community centered, the better the response will be in apprehending violent fugitives and holding them accountable.”
During the meeting, attendees discussed a multitude of topics impacting criminal justice, among them were exploring voluntary warrant surrender days, judges addressed possibly adding alternative courts and programs, mental and behavioral health assistance, assessing drivers of crime, and the importance of officer and community safety when serving warrants.
The group also discussed the city’s request to legislators for a $20 million warrant fund to help clear the backlog, an increase from the original $10 million dollar legislative ask previously announced. In discussions today, all areas of the criminal justice system expressed the need for funding to support clearing the backlog. This fund would be used to support the personnel overtime needed to reduce the backlog, without having an impact on the number of officers in the field.
Mayor Keller also highlighted the Metro Crime Initiative during the meeting with Director Davis. Through the creation of MCI in 2021, key items have been addressed, but there is a still a long way to go to fix the criminal justice system. The group discussed gaps in the system and what can be done at the ground level and through the assistance of legislation.
The Metro Crime Initiative also includes several policy and budget requests, including support for officer recruitment and retention, increased funding for narcotics investigations, stronger penalties for gun crimes and expanding resources to combat domestic violence.
In November, the City outlined its 2023 policy priorities for MCI in the upcoming session. You can read the priority list, here.
entire video of press conference can be seen at the above link:
Below is a list of attendees at today’s discussion:
Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque
Mr. Isaac Benton, Chairman, Albuquerque City Council
Mr. Sam Bregman, District Attorney, Second Judicial District
Ms. Adriana Barboa, Bernalillo County Commissioner
Ms. Julie Morgas Baca, Bernalillo County Manager
The Honorable Maria Dominguez, Chief Judge, Metropolitan Court
The Honorable Mari Ward, Chief Judge, NM District Court
Ms. Marian Matthews, NM State Representative
Representatives from Senator Ben Ray Lujan’s Office
Representatives from Senator Martin Heinrich’s Office
Law Enforcement Partners
U.S. Attorney Alex Uballez
Chief Harold Medina, Albuquerque Police Department
Sheriff John Allen, Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office
Chief Tim Johnson, New Mexico State Police
Secretary Jason Bowie, New Mexico Department of Public Safety
SAC Greg Millard, DEA
SAC Raul Bujanda, FBI
SAC Brendan Iber, ATF
DSAC JT Stevens, HSI
Director Will Glaspy, NM HIDTA