Metro Crime Initiative Secures $10M for Warrant Operations

May 3, 2023

Mayor Tim Keller and Chief of Police Harold Medina applaud public safety progress from the 2023 legislative session. Efforts from the Metro Crime Initiative (MCI) secured $10 million for warrant overtime operations around the state to tackle the staggering backlog of nearly 5,000 felony arrest warrants. MCI also helped pass critical crime fighting legislation.

Launched by the City of Albuquerque in 2021, MCI brought together partners from criminal justice system together to close gaps in the system, strengthen response to violent and property crime, and invest in violence prevention programs. MCI’s top priority for the 2023 session was funding warrant operations.

“APD will continue to work closely with our partners at all levels of the criminal justice system to hold violent offenders accountable,” said Chief Harold Medina. “This funding will help us go after drivers of crime in our community who are violent or have recently offended and crack down on the warrant backlog.”

APD is working closely with its partners at the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office, New Mexico State Police, and the U.S. Marshals Office to make more felony arrests. Of the 5,000 outstanding warrants, APD’s command staff will prioritize making arrests for those that are violent, recent, and perpetual offenders.

“I will continue to fight for more resources for our officers to make felony arrests and more tools for enforcement to make our city safer,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “When the entire system works together, change is possible and we can make a real impact in our communities.”

New Mexico will benefit from the passing of legislation in the MCI 2023 agenda:

• Reduce gun violence through the Bennie Hargrove Act penalizing negligent firearm storage (HB 9).
• Reduce retail organized crime through the Robbery and Organized Retail Crime bill (HB 234);
• Ensure confidentiality of law enforcement investigations through the Law Enforcement Body Cameras bill (SB 368).
• Make car theft less attractive through bill that tracks catalytic converter sales (SB 133); and
• Make Albuquerque traffic safer through automatic speed enforcement bill (HB 462).