A PROPOSED DRAFT OF THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT’S PROPOSED DRAFT FOR APD’S USE-OF-FORCE POLICY WILL BE THE TOPIC FRIDAY AT 5PM FOR THE POLICE OVERSIGHT BOARD. IT’S A SPECIAL MEETING THAT THEY HOPE WILL ANSWER QUESTIONS REGARDING RECENT CHANGES TO THE POLICY.
OVERSIGHT BOARD MEMBER JOANNE FINE TELLS THE ALBUQUERQUE JOURNAL AN EARLIER POLICY ALLOWS FOR USING THE MINIMUM FORCE NEEDED IN A GIVEN SITUATION. BUT SHE SAYS A LATER DRAFT SEEMS TO SAY OFFICERS CAN SEE HOW MUCH FORCE THEY CAN GET AWAY WITH AND NOT BE PROSECUTED. POLICE COMMANDER ROB MIDDLETON TELLS THE JOURNAL THE POLICY STILL EMPHASIZES USING MINIMUM FORCE AND TO WORK TO DE-ESCALATE A CONFRONTATION.
THE PRESIDENT OF THE POLICE UNION, SHAUN WILLOUGHBY, SAYS THE DRAFT IS MORE RESTRICTIVE THAN POLICIES AT OTHER LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES.
