The Albuquerque Police Department became a focus of headlines in the early 2010s due to the rate of shootings by police officers , with 27 people killed and 15 others wounded between 2010 and 2014 . This was reported as the highest rate of fatal police shootings in the country . Many of those shot were dealing with mental illness , calling into question officers ' preparedness for dealing with such situations . Criticism intensified even more after the shooting of James Boyd in early 2014 , which sparked protests and vigils after lapel camera footage of the incident was made public . Later that year , the U.S. Department of Justice completed a 16-month investigation , concluding that APD had demonstrated a " pattern or practice of use of excessive force " . While the rate of shootings has decreased since federally mandated changes were enacted , the department has struggled with officer recruitment and retention , falling to just 820 officers in 2016 . This has been blamed in part for the city 's rising crime rate and was a major issue in the 2017 mayoral election
shooting of James Boyd
Shooting of James Boyd
History of Albuquerque, New Mexico