Albuquerque’s officer-involved fatal shootings remain alarmingly high, with 54 individuals dead over the last decade—a figure virtually unchanged from when the Department of Justice (DOJ) intervened in 2014 due to excessive force concerns. The DOJ recently concluded its oversight, leading to questions about what has been achieved in terms of police reform and community safety, especially following tragic incidents like the shooting of Mariah Voight, who was unarmed and holding a cellphone when killed by police in March 2024.
Civil rights attorney Shannon Kennedy, who represents Voight’s family, criticizes the DOJ’s departure, suggesting it may have enabled the APD’s ability to justify such killings rather than prevent them. Statistics reveal that New Mexico ranks first in the nation for fatal police shootings per capita, with 92% of affected individuals reportedly under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Advocates argue that although some internal policy changes have occurred, a fundamental shift in police culture is necessary to prevent future tragedies.
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