With crime remaining prevalent in New Mexico’s largest city, state leaders are sending in the National Guard to support local police efforts, but residents might not recognize the soldiers if they see them. Albuquerque has seen an influx in violence tied to a growing fentanyl crisis and an increase in offenses committed at the hands of youth.
In response, Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham authorized the deployment to help restore public safety and relieve pressure on law enforcement stretched thin by the ongoing wave of criminal activity.
Focus on Central Avenue Corridor
Albuquerque’s Central Avenue Corridor is the focus. Often referred to as the city’s “war zone,” the corridor has become a hotspot for crime, prompting Police Chief Harold Medina to request state support earlier this year.
In a memo sent in March, Medina said his department has made strides in reducing crime citywide, but the scale and intensity of problems in the area require backup to maintain progress…