ARE STATE LAWS ADEQUATE WHEN DEALING WITH MENTALLY ILL PEOPLE WHO ARE VIOLENT? IT'S A QUESTION BEING ASKED IN LIGHT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SHOOTING OF HOMELESS CAMPER JAMES BOYD IN THE SANDIA FOOTHILLS MARCH 16TH.
GOVERNOR MARTINEZ SAYS THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATION OF THE SHOOTING HAS TO PLAY OUT BEFORE ANY KENDRA'S LAW LEGISLATION IS PROPOSED. SHE SAYS IT'S IMPORTANT TO FIRST FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED … AND THAT A FULL AND DETAILED INVESTIGATION IS DONE BY THE FBI.
KENDRA'S LAW REQUIRES MENTAL PATIENTS WHO'VE BEEN JUDGED AS BEING DANGEROUS TO GET PSYCHIATRIC TREATMENT AND TAKE THEIR MEDICATIONS OR BE LOCKED UP. NEW MEXICO IS ONE OF A FEW STATES THAT HASN'T ENACTED KENDRA'S LAW. IT'S NAMED FOR KENDRA WEBDALE, THE NEW YORK CITY WOMAN KILLED IN 1999 WHEN A SCHIZOPHRENIC MAN SHOVED HER IN FRONT OF A SUBWAY TRAIN.
IN REGARD TO SUNDAY NIGHT'S CLASH BETWEEN PROTESTERS AND POLICE RIOT OFFICERS, THE GOVERNOR SAYS THOSE UNHAPPY WITH APD HAVE A RIGHT TO PROTEST, BUT NOT TO HURT PEOPLE OR DAMAGE PROPERTY.
