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On Tuesday, city leaders and the Albuquerque Police Department announced the launch of Downtown TEAM, which stands for Targeted Enforcement and Active Monitoring. TEAM will provide a better use of officer resources for greater community impact and create an increased presence in downtown Albuquerque. Officers will begin working overtime for TEAM in July.
Many local businesses have already contributed to fund additional patrol of proactive police in the Downtown area and have reached $90,000 in pledges. Among the pledges, PNM contributed to TEAM through a grant award of $15,000.
“Curbing crime is a shared responsibility and the first order of business for any downtown revitalization work,” said Pat Vincent-Collawn, PNM Chairman and CEO. “The PNM Resources Foundation is proud to support organizations, such as TEAM, that are providing the needed resources to rebuild stronger, safer, more cohesive, vibrant, participatory communities.”
As part of a larger push to make Downtown safer and allocate resources for law enforcement, APD restructured the ability for big-box retailers to contract off-duty police officers and pay for overtime services.
Specifically, officers working overtime for TEAM will be focused on a menu of items that are key issues in the Downtown area from DWIs to fights, modified exhaust systems, illegal firearms and traffic enforcement. The city also implemented license plate readers Downtown and installed additional lighting in alleyways. Cameras linked to APD’s Real Time Crime Center are now installed along Central Avenue between 1st and 7th Street.
The City has been partnering with Downtown businesses to provide additional police presence during times of peak-call volume and based on a data-driven approach to public safety. The hope is that more Downtown businesses will consider making contributions to the One Albuquerque Fund to continue TEAM long-term.
“Downtown is the heartbeat of our city and we’re pushing forward to create more opportunities to live, work and find activities for everyone right here in our core,” said Mayor Tim Keller.
“We have made significant changes to bolster our presence Downtown and have already seen the impacts of targeted enforcement, increased technology and more boots on the ground,” said Chief Harold Medina.
If anyone from the community or stakeholders in the Downtown area would like to donate to the One Albuquerque Fund to contribute to TEAM, they can make a donation at this link.