APD Police Chief Issues Message to Department following weekend crash
ALBUQUERQUE – Chief of Police Harold Medina has issued a message to the Albuquerque Police Department following a shooting he witnessed that then led to a crash.
On Saturday, February 17, Chief Medina was headed to a news conference in his unmarked department issued vehicle with his wife. While in the left turn lane at a light at Central Ave. and Alvarado Dr. N.E., Chief Medina and his wife witnessed two individuals fighting. They then saw one of the individuals pull out a gun and shots were fired. Chief Medina and his wife were in the direct line of fire in which the Chief then took evasive action through the intersection to get his vehicle away from the gunfire.
A gold Mustang was traveling eastbound on Central and continued forward as Chief Medina was entering the intersection and the vehicles collided. The driver of the Mustang was transported to the hospital where he is in stable condition expected to make a full recovery.
Through the investigation conducted by APD’s Fatal Crash Unit, it has been confirmed that Chief’s accounts of the incident were accurate. Crash data determined that Chief Medina was at a full stop at Central and Alvarado. The data then shows that Chief Medina accelerated and tried hitting the breaks just before the crash occurred.
“This weekend was a big reminder of what it was like to be a patrol officer and having to make life and death decisions in a split second,” said Chief of Police Harold Medina. “We alone, cannot change the community, we need to work hand and hand with all parts of the criminal justice system to end this gun violence so that innocent people driving down roadways aren’t injured and families going to an event aren’t subject to these situations.”
Crime Stoppers has also issued a bulletin (24-17) for any information into the shooter/vehicle involved in the altercation on Saturday. Anyone with information can report anonymously to (505)-843-STOP (7867) or p3tips.com/531.
Chief Medina’s message can be found here