ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - U.S. Senator Tom Udall today released the following statement on the settlement agreement between the U.S. Department of Justice and the city of Albuquerque to reform the Albuquerque Police Department:
"This is a sobering day for Albuquerque and its police force, as it joins a list that no city wants to be on. I hope this court-enforceable consent decree will mark a critical step forward in reforming the Albuquerque Police Department, where the use of excessive force and the lack of accountability and oversight have eroded the public trust and diminished its ability to serve the community.
"I will closely monitor the implementation of this agreement between the Department of Justice and city of Albuquerque, which is necessary to improve safety, protect citizens' constitutional rights and rebuild trust between law enforcement and the public. There are many brave and dedicated men and women officers at APD, but the department needs significant reforms to fix systemic problems. Reforming the culture of the APD won't occur overnight, but it needs to happen as soon as possible to restore Albuquerque residents' confidence in their police department."
