LAW ENFORCEMENT UNDER ATTACK
Law enforcement in New Mexico are the target of unprecedented attacks from extreme groups attempting to undermine police. In the midst of national upheaval against law enforcement, partisan politicians and agitators are pushing to defund the police and, in some cases, abolish them altogether.
Fortune: “The Vast Majority of Americans Don’t Want to Defund the Police”
Pew poll results: 73% of Americans don’t want police funding decreases. Fortune.com 7/9/2020
Radical efforts dont just single out the bad apples. They aim to strip all police of their legal protections for doing their job. Instead of putting criminals in the justice system, these efforts would put police in the courts' crosshairs, just for using their discretion to address a potentially dangerous situation.
Law enforcement face life and death situations on a daily basis. They are often forced to make split-second decisions — putting their own safety at risk — for the protection of the public.
But under a recently proposed bill, New Mexico police — and all public employees — stand to lose the defense of qualified immunity. This important legal protection shields public employees from financial liability when acting in good faith while in the course of performing their duties. Without qualified immunity, public employees — most especially law enforcement — are personally vulnerable to a barrage of expensive lawsuits.
“Without qualified immunity you expose all sorts of government employees to these lawsuits…Teachers, social workers or any public employee loses that defense in court. It isn’t just about police.”
-Rep. Bill Rehm
Albuquerque Journal, 8/2/2020
These efforts to strip police of legal protections put our communities at risk for even more crime and violence — something New Mexico is already struggling to deal with (read “Safer Communities”). It’s becoming harder and harder for local police to recruit new officers. With stretched resources and less police, those hurt most by the lack of law enforcement personnel are low-income neighborhoods.
If extreme groups get their way and law enforcement are prevented from protecting our communities, New Mexico’s judges are our only hope for keeping criminals off the streets. Due to the so-called bail reform measures, however, it seems likely that the revolving door of crime that New Mexico is currently facing would be worsened.
AP Photo/Craig Fritz
If things weren’t bad enough for police as it is, Gov. Lujan Grisham also recently signed into law Red Flag legislation that opens up police officers to even more risk. Against the wishes of law enforcement agencies from throughout the state, the legislature passed the law which has provision that allows for police officer to be held liable for damages arising in the course of performing their duties.
"Law enforcement officers who decline red-flag requests...can be held liable for not enforcing the law, under the revised proposal."
Thus, Red Flag laws can punish law enforcement officers while doing little to stop real criminals or lower crime.
But Governor Lujan Grisham seems unfazed by the situation faced by law enforcement. In fact, she criticized law enforcement officials who took issue with the newly enacted laws — going so far as telling them to resign if they objected to enforcing the law.
With anti-police sentiment at an all-time high, New Mexico shouldn’t be making things any harder for our brave law enforcement personnel. And yet, our state leaders have made it increasingly difficult for police to do their jobs. For the safety of our communities, we must stop the attacks on law enforcement and make the justice system work for the people, not criminals.
Stand with New Mexico’s law enforcement.
Take the pledge to Back the Blue.
The men and women of law enforcement are under attack from partisan politicians and extremist agitators. More than ever, they need to know we have their backs. If you support our police and appreciate the many sacrifices they make to keep our communities safe, add your name to our Back the Blue pledge.
