ALBUQUERQUE, NM—Today, the APD Forward coalition released its top three picks from the pool of seventeen candidates currently under consideration for the role of independent federal monitor, the position that will oversee the implementation of the settlement agreement governing reforms in the Albuquerque Police Department (APD). APD Forward acquired the applications of all parties under consideration via a public records request and analyzed the candidates based on criteria which APD Forward regards as crucial to the function of the independent monitor. On Wednesday, January 14^th, the City of Albuquerque and the U.S. Department of Justice plan to notify the court of their choices for the monitor role.

“From our study of the police reform process in other cities, we know that the independent monitor is key to the success of a court-enforced agreement to address a pattern and practice of constitutional violations in any police department,” said Peter Simonson, Executive Director of the ACLU of New Mexico.  “It will be the monitor’s job to hold APD accountable to the terms of the settlement agreement between the DOJ and the City. One of APD Forward’s primary goals is to advocate for a capable and qualified team of experts to oversee the implementation of the reforms that our police department so urgently needs.”

The APD Forward coalition asserts that the team of experts chosen to fulfill this critical function should have:

1. Out of State headquarters and share no relationship with the City of Albuquerque or its agents.
2. Extensive experience monitoring police compliance with consent decrees to address a pattern and practice of constitutional violations.
3. The proven ability to develop a monitoring plan based on best practices and the latest research on police reform.
4. A commitment to engage community stakeholders in the reform process.
5. A full-time presence in the Albuquerque Police Department, ideally by establishing a community-accessible office in Albuquerque.
6. A mix of law enforcement professionals, academic experts and other subject matter specialists.
7. Specific expertise in mental illness and crisis de-escalation.
8. Experience dealing with collective bargaining issues.
9. A lead monitor with experience overseeing a large team of experts.
10. A local representative who can help ease the team’s introduction to the APD.

Based on these criteria, the APD Forward coalition believes the following respondents to the City’s Request for Information are most suited for the role of Independent Monitor:

1. 1.    Public Management Resources, Inc.: Carried out monitorships of Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and New Jersey state police and advised on the DOJ consent decree with the Los Angeles Police Department.

1. 2.    Warshaw & Associates: Warshaw served as monitor in Detroit and currently serves as monitor for police departments in Oakland, CA; Niagara Falls, NY; and Maricopa County, AZ.

1. 3.    CNA: Assessed and monitored the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department’s collaborative reform agreement with the Community Oriented Policing Services (COPS) office of the U.S. Department of Justice.

The applications for all of those under consideration for the role of federal monitor can be read at www.APDForward.org/resources.

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