Minutes of the Southeast Area Command Community Policing Council

Regular Meeting

July 16, 2015

Cesar Chavez Community Center

7505 Kathryn Ave SE

Albuquerque, New Mexico 87108

1. Call to Order

Chairman, Colt Balok called the meeting to order at 6:06 p.m. on Thursday, July 16, 2015.

Council Members Present:

Chair – Colt Balok

Co-Chair – Clara Padilla-Silver

Frank Luna

Ronald Halbgewachs

Cassandra Reckaway

Officer Tim Hotole

Sgt. Jason Sanchez

Facilitator: Jeanette Martinez

STAFF PRESENT

None

PUBLIC PRESENT

None

2. Agenda/Approval of Minutes

Agenda for the July 16, 2015 was voted on and approved. Minutes for the April 16, 2015 and May 21,

2015 were voted on and approved. The June 18, 2015 meeting was cancelled.

3. Discussion

Resolution 1S was discussed regarding possible awareness of gang related activity. This was the 2nd reading of the resolution. The resolution was introduced by Council member Cassandra Reckaway who suggested information about gang activity and it’s prevalence to crime could prove to be informative when making decisions about public safety. Sgt. Sanchez indicated that data might prove to be unreliable due to the fact that officers do not always have the opportunity to document a crime and it’s relation to “gang-on-gang” activity verses an individual gang member incident. Sgt, Sanchez stated that if officers knew they were responding to a “known gang call” it would be easier to track. A motion was made to table the decision and the motion was voted on and unanimously favored by Council members.

Resolution 2S was discussed regarding improvement of marked home addresses. Cassandra Reckaway introduced the resolution requesting action be taken to light up dark residential areas and improve visibility to home addresses in order for first responders to have quicker, better, and safer access to homes. During a ride-along she observed the serious difficulty APD officers have finding the correct location of homes due to poor visibility. There was discussion about who would enforce this action and how it could be done. A motion was made to approve the resolution. The motion was voted and unanimously favored by Council members, none opposed.

Resolution 3S was discussed regarding the APD online and phone reporting system. Cassandra Reckaway introduced the resolution requesting efforts be made by the city of Albuquerque to educate citizens about the alternatives to calling 911. Calls that do not require immediate police presence can be reported through the online/phone system and will free up officers to respond to the more serious issues. A motion was made to approve the resolution. The motion was voted and unanimously favored by Council members, none opposed.

Resolution 4S was discussed regarding the evaluation of a more advanced, state of the art, Gun technology manufactured by Yardarm Firearm Telematics and its possible use by APD. Sgt. Sanchez noted the complexity of using this type of technology which could prove to be complicated and difficult to use in the field. He noted the decision to implement the use of this technology requires an extensive approval process within several department of the city. A motion was made to approve the resolution. The motion was voted and unanimously favored by Council members, none opposed.

Resolution 5S was discussed regarding cross training of fire fighters as police officers. Frank Luna introduced the resolution. Fireman could be dispatched to non-criminal calls such as the “down and out” and medical calls which in turn will free up APD officers to respond to criminal issues. Possible problems regarding this proposal were discussed such as the fact that fireman are not trained police officers and are not hired to “police.’ It was agreed that Council member Frank Luna will re-write this resolution with specific detail describing his intent for the resolution. A motion was made to table the decision, the motion was voted on and unanimously favored by Council members, none opposed.

4. Public Comment

No public comments were made

5. Other Business

Chairman Colt Balok announced a meeting of all Community Policing Councils (CPC), from all area

Commands, which will be held on August 22, 2015.

Council discussed possibilities for recruitment of Council members. Options such as tweeting, Facebook

or use of other social media should be considered.

6. Adjournment

Resolutions 6, 7, and 8 will be moved to the August 20, 2015 CPC meeting for discussion. Chair Colt Balok reminded everyone of the next regular meeting on Thursday, August 20, 2015 at 6:00 pm. The meeting adjourned at 7:00 pm.

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