Many Crime Categories Trending Down in First 8 Months of TEAM
May 17, 2023
ALBUQUERQUE – Crime is trending down in the Downtown area since the implementation of APD’s TEAM (Targeted Enforcement and Active Monitoring) initiative that dedicates additional officers during peak times.
APD created TEAM in September 2022 to help build a stronger Downtown presence and curb crime. Downtown businesses raised $150,000 to pay for officer overtime.
Since September when TEAM began targeted enforcement, there has been a 6% decrease in overall crime.
Below is a full breakdown of the data:
| YTD 2023 | YTD 2022 | % Change | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Aggravated Assault/Battery | 107 | 109 | -2% |
| Auto Burglary | 19 | 33 | -42% |
| Auto Theft | 39 | 59 | -34% |
| Commercial Burglary | 7 | 9 | -22% |
| Disturbance | 496 | 504 | -2% |
| Residential Burglary | 10 | 9 | 11% |
| Robbery | 10 | 5 | 100% |
| Shooting With Injury | 3 | 6 | -50% |
| Shooting With No Injury | 28 | 20 | 40% |
| Vandalism | 44 | 52 | -15% |
“We are citing individuals, making arrests, and the increased presence has become an overall deterrent,” said Chief Harold Medina. “Our Valley Area Commander has heard from business owners who are thankful for TEAM, and have seen a noticeable improvement in public safety.”
Prior to the implementation of TEAM, Wednesdays were the day with the highest crime based on data. Officers were responding to fights and shootings often in the same locations. Once TEAM launched, officers targeted those hotspots on Wednesday nights and immediately saw a decline in incidents.
Traffic-related issues were also among the biggest concerns on Saturdays and Sundays. Officers began TEAM enforcement on the weekends and also saw a significant decline in traffic offenses.
Friday through Sunday, there are 8 officers on duty Downtown during the peak hours between 10:00p.m. and 2:00a.m. with no issues receiving volunteers to work the overtime.
“Creating TEAM was part of a bigger plan to make our a downtown a thriving, lively destination for our community and visitors to feel safe,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “I’m grateful for our business community who has invested in this program that has been a successful model for fighting crime with a data-driven approach.”
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.