Reforming APD will take lots of time, cooperation

Albuquerque, prepare for the long haul. Because there’s no cheap or fast fix for the Albuquerque Police Department. So says the federal court-appointed monitor who is overseeing reform as a result of a U.S. Department of Justice agreement with the city.

The city is under the court-approved agreement reached last year after a DOJ investigation concluded APD has had a pattern and practice of violating people’s civil rights with aggressive use of lethal and nonlethal force. Since 2010, APD officers have shot more than 40 people, many of whom were mentally ill.

Independent monitor James Ginger last week reported to city councilors that Albuquerque is in “the early innings of a very long ballgame” to bring APD into compliance with the agreement. He expects it to take four years.

Ginger didn’t elaborate on his concerns in his recently released first report, but he did comment that at the top of the to-do list is what he called “disjointed and disorganized” policy development. “Without good policy, you can’t do good training. It’s a critical piece,” he said.

APD and Ginger, who has coached other cities through the process, are finishing up a use-of-force training policy expected to be complete by New Year’s Day. It will have to be approved by both the DOJ and U.S. District Judge Robert Brack, who is overseeing the process.

Ginger also said the city needs to work at communicating better with the public and APD needs to develop an effective policy for “progressive discipline” for officers who repeatedly violate rules.

For activists and detractors who expect immediate and significant change, it isn’t going to happen. The magic wand is unavailable. But knuckling down to the hard work of altering long-standing attitudes and practices is always the preferable way to solve a problem.

Cooperation from all parties — city officials, police brass and rank and file, and the community — is essential for success. But expect a long, arduous process.