By Joseph Kolb
The city of Albuquerque (click here) has agreed to pay $5 million to the family of a homeless man shot to death by police last year in a mountainside encounter captured on video that prompted protests against excessive force by officers, officials said on Friday.
The payment settles a wrongful death lawsuit brought against the city by the family of James Boyd, a man described by relatives as mentally ill who was killed in March 2014 near his makeshift campsite after a four-hour standoff with police.
Two officers from the Albuquerque Police Department, Dominique Perez and Keith Sandy, were charged with second-degree murder in his death.
"The parties believe that this was the right time to reach a settlement," said Albuquerque City Attorney Jessica Hernandez. "We are hopeful that resolving this difficult and emotional case is a significant step in moving forward as a community."
Hernandez said city officials and the police department are committed to reform efforts already underway "including specialized training in managing situations involving mental health issues."...
The City of Albuquerque needs to put it's German Shepherds up for adoption.
