Albuquerque police crashes double in 2 years

[left-of-center2012]

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — Albuquerque police officers crashed their vehicles more than 300 times in 2016, which was more than double the number of crashes they were involved in two years earlier.
But while the number of crashes has increased, the percentage of those crashes that police officials determine to be “preventable” has declined.

And the increase in the number of crashes is likely related to several factors, including a decrease in the number of officers on the force and increases in the number of miles driven by police, the seriousness of calls for service and the overall number of car wrecks in the city, according to a report by Albuquerque’s Real Time Crime Center.

The report was presented to the Police Oversight Board last week.

For months, the board had asked the Albuquerque Police Department to analyze its officer-involved crash trends and create a report.

Those concerns were elevated in April when officer Johnathan McDonnell’s cruiser was involved in a collision with a family vehicle at the intersection of Eubank and Indian School while he was responding to a call for service. Joel Anthony Suina, 6, died as a result of the wreck.

A recent report by the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office found that just before the April crash McDonnell was driving nearly 80 miles per hour, which, according to the deputy who investigated the crash, was too fast.

Read more at:
https://www.abqjournal.com/1069426/study-finds-albuquerque-police-crashes-increasing.html

[ProfessorGAC]

1. 300 Police Crashes In Albequerque?

I know it's not Mayberry, but doesn't that seem awfully high for a relatively modest sized city. There's what, 550k in the actual city? And they have around 1 thousand cops, not all of whom are patrol officers.

3 out of every 10 cops is involved in a motor vehicle accident?

[janx]

2. We don't have 1000 cops.

http://krqe.com/2017/04/27/city-councilors-look-to-increase-number-of-albuquerque-police-officers/

There has been a shortage for years, and it shows in the exponential increase in crime, especially since around 2010. This is the #1 concern in our upcoming mayoral election.

http://www.kob.com/albuquerque-news/albuquerque-police-department-data-increase-crime-decrease-staffing-officer-shortage-gorden-eden-union-apoa-shaun-willoughby/4401499/

[ProfessorGAC]

5. I Just Looked It Up.

It said on the PD website 1350 PD employees, 1055 as officers. (The rest i assume are administrative.)

But, as you would know better than me (and apparently their website), that makes this number of crashes even worse. no?

[janx]

6. How many of those are on patrol?

I am familiar with the APD website. We don't have enough police here. Everyone knows it. The crime rate per capita, particularly gun crimes and property crimes, is far above the national average. We are number one, currently, for car theft. I take a commuter van regularly on a 150-mile round trip three times a week to where I work. My van riders and I arrived at our departure point two Mondays ago to find that our van had been stolen.

It is common for people to have their cars stolen from their driveways. Shots are fired here in ABQ on a regular basis. We had a spectacular, old fashioned shoot out at a well-frequented intersection a couple of months ago.

A recent story in the news highlighted a situation in which a middle-aged couple returned to their home to find a woman in their driveway pointing a gun at them as she and another individual tried to rob it. She fired and missed one of the homeowners' heads by a couple of inches. Caught on security camera from across the street--larger than life. She had warrants--not unusual. Someone commenting on the news story recognized her immediately and was correct.

The police on patrol play the game of whack-a-mole currently, driving from one command sector to another because each sector lacks the amount of patrol officers on duty at one time. I listen to the police scanner currently, and it's ridiculous. The lack of police on patrol in the years since 2010 has resulted in an exponential rise in crime. Reckless driving, lower level meth/heroin dealing, burglary, for instance, are very common because people know that the police must concentrate on more serious crimes.

This does not excuse police officers from driving recklessly by any means. But the fact remains that they are having to bolt from one area to another. You are right; we are a relatively small Southwestern city. There's no excuse for too few police on patrol.

[ProfessorGAC]

7. Got It

Like I said, I trust that you know better than me

[Initech]

3. Man Heisenberg's blue meth must still be in wide circulation!

[left-of-center2012]

4. Sadly a 6 year old boy was killed by a cop going too fast