Bloodshed In Las Cruces And The Political Bloodletting To Come; Governor And Allies Blame Light On Crime Legislature But Police Chief Reveals Department Understaffed At Time Of Mass Shooting; Tragedy "Probably" Avoidable

Before the political bloodletting gets out of hand after the real blood spilled Friday night at a public park in Las Cruces that left 3 young people dead and numerous others wounded, let's focus on the most salient fact of the mass shooting being ignored by the Governor and most state lawmakers. 

Here it is as relayed by Las Cruces Chief of Police Chief Jeremy Story at a Saturday news conference:

In a perfect world where I had 220 police officers like I’m supposed to, it probably would have been different last night, but I had no units available for most of the night prior to the shooting.

The obvious point being that if LCPD was adequately staffed (and managed) there would have been a good chance that the bloodshed at Young Park that shocked the state and nation could have been avoided.

Even as the Governor melodramatically calls for yet another special legislative session on crime and  in particular juvenile crime, she nor legislators in the now concluded 60 day session discussed the staffing and management of the state's largest police departments. In fact, there was very little mention of even the historic DWI bribery scandal engulfing the ABQ police department.

A tough on crime package alone is not going to inhibit crime if our police agencies do not have an adequate presence which they don't and which has been the case in ABQ and Las Cruces for some time.

One state legislator, freshman Dem Rep. Sarah Silva, is one of the few to get that following the Las Cruces violence.

Rep. Silva

Last summer my family and I attended a concert in that park. After the concert, we saw the same type of gathering. People were doing donuts in the parking lot. . . It was not a situation police or our community should stand for. I have questions about why the Las Cruces Police Department has allowed these large, unmonitored gatherings. . .at Young Park where people are driving dangerously. I believe police have the tools to break up or at least monitor these un-sanctioned gatherings — perhaps if that had happened we would not be mourning this tragedy. I’m pretty upset about it.

She should be. Tough crime laws aren't going to do the jobs of our police agencies. Local officials must step up and provide policing that is present and felt in the community and that inhibits lawbreaking. Longtime APD watchdog Dan Klein says:

LCPD and APD need state audits to analyze their staffing and management to determine if they are correctly staffing their field patrol units and not wasting money on fluff. That the LCPD Chief admits that proper staffing would probably have prevented this tragedy is the straw that breaks the camel's back.

Indeed. So why does the city of Rio Rancho, the state's third largest, not have the staffing issues of LCPD and APD. More from Klein:

That mayor, city council and police chief there have made uniformed patrols the top priority. That is staffed before anything else. That's why they don't have the lunacy we are seeing in other cities. Police departments statewide need to have a clear understanding that the number one priority is staffing uniformed patrols with enough officers to always quickly respond to a 911 call with a well-trained officer.

BASHING CERVANTES

Las Cruces state senator and Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joe Cervantes was excoriated on the socials (and among some blog readers) following the mass shooting. They said he has bottled up tough on crime legislation and has wrongly stated that crime is an "Albuquerque problem." 

Okay, Las Cruces has a crime problem, too. But Cervantes' contention that the solution largely rests with local police departments and their political leadership still resonates. 

The Governor exclaims that Las Cruces has seen an alarming 46 percent increase in violent crime compared to last year. That leads back to the stone unturned--the management of our police departments. 

Why would crime soar by such levels now? Was there no officer shortage a year ago? No. As far back as 2021, the city was offering thousands of dollars in incentives to hire more cops to resolve a shortfall.

Mayor Eric Enriquez took over in 2024 after Ken Miyagishima finished 16 years at the helm. Does that have anything to do with the stunning crime increase? Chief Story took over in mid-2023. 

SONG AND A DANCE

We would be remiss to not discuss these comments made by the Chief at his news conference:

This horrendous, senseless act is a stark reminder of the blatant disregard  people in New Mexico have for the rule of law and order. It's also a reminder of the utter lack of fear and accountability in New Mexico. As angry as I am. . .this news conference will not be political. There will come a time to talk about the failures that led to this tragedy and so many others in New Mexico. . .

What a song and dance act. Did Chief Story get lessons from APD Chief Medina?

The people of New Mexico do not have "blatant disregard" for the rule of law and order. Over 99 percent of them obey the law each and every day. 

After noting the lack of fear and accountability among the criminal class, the Chief goes into finger-pointing mode, saying there will "come a time to talk about the failures that led to this tragedy." Does that include possible failures of the Chief, his department and the political leadership of the city of Las Cruces? 

His statement doesn't indicate that the lack of introspection among our exceptionally well-funded police agencies is about to dissipate which is precisely the problem when it comes to the state confronting the crime crisis in totality. The focus is entirely on crime and punishment and hardly any on the mechanics and effectiveness of the actual crime-fighting.

It would be an honor to the memories of those murdered Friday night if that deficient and harmful narrative is reversed and that all those responsible for the public's safety are held accountable for the jobs they are performing.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.        

E-mail your news and comments. (newsguy@yahoo.com)

Interested in reaching New Mexico's most informed audience? Advertise here.