A significant amount of force cases (click here) reviewed were found to involve persons with mental illness and in crisis. The department’s policies, training and supervision were found insufficient to ensure officers properly responded to people they encountered with mental illness or in distress.
I want no excuses. There were 23 deaths. 23 unnecessary and cruel deaths. The idea the police were unprepared to actually be among civilians should have been validated before this ever occurred. This is an outrage.
There also needs to be a review of the lack of support for the homeless in Albequerque. Mr. Boyd's death was one of the cruelest deaths anyone could imagine. Innocent of any wrong doing. He was surviving and hurting no one. There is no excuse that justifies this level of police brutality.
The APD turned police work into a sport. James Boyd requires justice.
