The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is working to make the city buses and bus stops safer by trying a new approach to fight drug issues and other crimes.
“We’ve received several complaints and concerns from both city employees, from transient, and also from talking to the community,” APD Chief Harold Medina told KOB 4 this week.
Police are trying a combination of efforts to deal with drug sales and other illegal activity at bus stops, including the deployment of undercover officers.
“Utilizing undercover officers to just observe interaction and transactions at the bus stops, we’re actually even working on each area command a couple of times a week, asking officers to get on the bus for an hour, to be seen within the area command, just ride the buses,” Medina said.
APD is hoping an increased police presence will deter potential criminals from using or selling drugs on buses or at bus stops.
KOB 4 recently reported that officers arrested one man, Tyler Witt, who they believe is a prominent drug dealer. Medina said Witt was found with 5,000 fentanyl pills and 50 grams of meth. The suspect faces multiple charges for dealing drugs and having a gun as a felon. A judge released him after his first appearance in court.
“We believe that this individual is responsible for quite a bit of drug dealing that was occurring at the bus stops and that that was kind of like his path of service was the bus stop,” Medina said. The operation is ongoing.
Police realized there was a problem after conducting an operation called Sticky Fingers, an action designed to catch thieves and any other illegal activity.
“It’s a good step in the right direction to make sure that we’re helping all the individuals who are trying to either ride the bus, or for the employees who are driving the buses,” Medina said.