Down For The Count: Two Albuquerque Police Officers To Be Charged

Last October there was an incident in which New Mexico State Police and Albuquerque Police officers exchanged blows in a street fight. Both departments have issued findings that place the blame on the incident on each other. In Santa Fe, the district attorney Henry Valdez has charged two APD officers with verbal assault, battery and disorderly conduct.

New Mexico is not the first or the last place where something like this will occur but whenever I see a story like this I have to ask myself, shouldn't people who are responsible for enforcing the law know better? I've heard the argument that law enforcement officers are only human like the rest of us and I agree that anyone can make a mistake but when it comes to something like brawling I must say that there is no excuse. All of the people involved should have known better and it does not matter whether the State Police or the Albuquerque Police started it.

Had this happened to me and another group of civilians everyone involved would probably be facing charges, so it is quite unfair to charge just the two APD officers, bring the other individuals up on charges as well. Somebody should have had the common sense to walk away from the confrontation before it escalated, plain and simple.

Behavior like this tarnishes the reputation and good work of law enforcement all over the country. I like to believe that the majority of the men and women who patrol our streets and keep us safe are mature and ethical enough to know better than to engage in unlawful behavior.

Tagged For: Albuquerque * Albuquerque Police Officers * Crime