The scene shortly before APD officers shot and killed James Boyd, a homeless man with a history of mental illness.


On Sunday, March 16, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) sent a heavily armed unit to confront James Boyd, a homeless man who was "camping illegally" in the Sandia Foothills. The encounter ended with officers shooting and killing him. This is just the latest in a series of APD-initiated shootings that have made headlines in recent years.
Enough is enough. Ask Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry to change the training and culture of APD so these tragedies are not repeated.
Many of you have already watched the disturbing footage of the incident captured on one of the officer's helmet cameras as officers gun down a seemingly compliant Boyd. APD chief Gordon Eden was quick to proclaim the shooting "justified," but the video footage leaves us with questions.
Thankfully, the U.S. Department of Justice is already looking into the APD's use of force. The ACLU of New Mexico is pressing the Department of Justice to include Boyd's death in its investigation.
Urge Mayor Berry to take responsibility for implementing much-needed reforms of APD's officer training and use of force policies.