Louie Sanchez, an Albuquerque city councillor, expressed concerns during a budget hearing regarding Police Chief Harold Medina's acceptance of a $5.4 million budget cut. He questioned the lack of consultation with the City Council concerning the deployment of the National Guard.
"Why did you not consult with this body, City Council, when you decided to have the National Guard come to Albuquerque," said Sanchez, City Councilor. "Thanks for disrespecting us today. So you did feel that it was important to contact some of this body, but not all of it?"
According to the City of Albuquerque’s website, the city's Fiscal Year 2025 (FY25) budget includes a reallocation of $5.4 million from the Police Department to expand the Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) Department. This reallocation aims to enhance ACS’s 24/7 crisis response services and strengthen the Violence Intervention Program (VIP), which focuses on addressing violence through community-based efforts. The VIP, now overseen by ACS, also received a $2 million federal grant to support its mission of reducing gun violence and assisting at-risk individuals.
Pete Dinelli states that the proposed FY25 budget for the Albuquerque Police Department is $271.5 million, representing a 5.2% increase from the previous year. Despite funding for 1,010 sworn officer positions, the department has consistently struggled to meet its target of 1,100 officers, with only 880 active officers and 50 cadets in training as of mid-2024. This shortfall highlights ongoing staffing challenges that have persisted since 2009 when the department last achieved its goal of 1,100 sworn personnel.
The Washington Post reports that Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham has authorized deploying 60 to 70 National Guard members to Albuquerque in response to police staffing shortages and rising crime rates, including increased fentanyl-related incidents and violent juvenile offenses. These unarmed volunteers will perform non-enforcement duties such as securing crime scenes and transporting detainees while dressed in civilian clothing. While city officials view this as a temporary measure to support law enforcement amid potential federal funding cuts, organizations like the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of New Mexico have raised concerns about further criminalizing vulnerable populations and diverting resources from essential social services.
Sanchez is a lifelong Westside resident and retired lieutenant from the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), where he served in multiple specialized units during his 26-year law enforcement career. Since retiring, he has become a successful small business owner and education advocate by founding two Allstate agencies and sponsoring scholarships and youth programs through the Albuquerque Hispano Chamber.
