Commission urges APD to keep recorders on

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO LOOK INTO COMPLAINTS ABOUT OFFICERS NOT USING TH...  More »

ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS AGREED TO LOOK INTO COMPLAINTS ABOUT OFFICERS NOT USING THEIR BELT RECORDERS REGULARLY. THIS COMES AFTER THE CHAIRMAN OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION BLOWS HIS STACK ABOUT THE ISSUE AT A PUBLIC MEETING. STUART DYSON IS HERE WITH MORE ON THE STORY. THE BELT RECORDER IS A PRIMITIVE DEVICE BY MODERN STANDARDS - IT'S ANALOG NOT DIGITAL - AND IT'S EITHER ON OR OFF - AND THE OVERSIGHT BOARD CHAIRMAN SAYS ALL TOO OFTEN IT'S OFF. THE BELT RECORDER - ONE OF MANY PIECES OF HARDWARE COPS WEAR INTO BATTLE NOWADAYS - AT CENTER STAGE AT THE MOST RECENT MEETING OF THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION. ' It's the same thing where they didn't have the belt tape on - they forgot to turn the belt tape on so there's really no penalty for the officers not to have it on so they don't have it on - who knows what they said or what they didn't say - it would just be easier if they did - and I understand sometimes in those they don't come out real good.' BUT ONLY COPS UNDER DISCIPLINARY ACTION HAVE TO TURN ON THE RECORDER FOR EVERY CONTACT WITH CITIZENS - AND RIGHT NOW THAT'S ONLY THREE OFFICERS OUT OF A FORCE OF ELEVEN HUNDRED. ' The general rules for officers are if they have the opportunity and things are like they're going south - then they turn on their belt recorder - it is not a requirement on every call that they use it - I will tell you that the majority of contacts we have with the public are very very positive and there's really no need for a belt recording.' BUT THE COMMISSION HAS QUESTIONS ABOUT THE POLICY - AND HAS VOTED TO PUT IT ON THE AGENDA FOR NEXT MONTH'S MEETING. ONE THING THE COMMISSIONERS ARE WONDERING - WHAT ABOUT DIGITAL RECORDERS - MAYBE VOICE-ACTIVATED - WHAT WOULD IT COST - WOULD IT IMPROVE THINGS FOR POLICE AND THE PUBLIC - OR MAKE IT WORSE - LOOKING FOR ANSWERS - BACK TO YOU. PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL IS WARNING PEOPLE AROUND ALBUQUERQUE TO BE AWARE OF A CRUEL PRANK SOMEONE'S BEEN PLAYING ... OFFICIALS SAY SOMEONE IS CALLING PEOPLE AT HOME -- AND TELLING THEM THEIR LOVED ONE IS IN THE EMERGENCY ROOM -- AND THEY SHOULD RUSH DOWN TO PRESBYTERIAN'S MAIN HOSPITAL. OFFICIALS SAY THE CALLS EVEN SHOW UP ON PEOPLE'S CALLER I-D AS COMING FROM PRESBYTERIAN HOSPITAL. SO FAR ITS HAPPENED 9 TIMES.... TWICE JUST LAST NIGHT. 1:22 'in our business of the emergency department we often times have to call people and give them bad news so we're very concerned that someone is doing this as a prank' OFFICIALS SAY THE ONLY THING THAT'S BEEN CONSISTENT IN THE CALLS IS THE MAN'S VOICE -- THEY SAY IF YOU GET ONE OF THE FAKE CALLS -- YOU SHOULD FILE A POLICE REPORT IMMEDIATELY. IF YOU GET A CALL AND YOU'RE NOT SURE IF ITS REAL... JUST CALL THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT AND ASK FOR THE NURSE IN CHARGE TO FIND OUT IF YOUR LOVED ONE IS REALLY THERE. THE CITY OF ESPANOLA HAS DECLARED A 'WATER EMERGENCY' -- AFTER A MILLION GALLONS OF WATER SUDDENLY DISAPPEARED. THIS WATER TANK HAS BEEN LEAKING SINCE FEBRUARY -- BUT EARLIER THIS WEEK IT RUPTURED -- SPILLING ONE MILLION GALLONS OF WATER. BECAUSE OF THAT -- THE CITY HAD TO TAKE ITS MOST PRODUCTIVE WATER PUMP OFFLINE. THE CITY IS NOW PUTTING SOME TIGHT RESTRICTIONS IN PLACE. OUTDOOR WATERING, WASHING CARS AT HOME ... AND THE USE OF WATER FOR CONSTRUCTION ARE ALL BANNED. AND BUSINESSES LIKE CAR WASHES AND LAUNDROMATS MUST REDUCE USE BY ABOUT 25 PERCENT. THE CITY HOPES TO LIFT THE RESTRICTIONS IN 2 WEEKS. DEPUTIES IN SAN JUAN COUNTY BELIEVE SOME OUTRAGED FORMER EMPLOYEES ARE BEHIND A BIG VANDALISM SPREE AT SOME OIL WELLS. HERE ARE SOME PICTURES OF THE DAMAGED OIL WELLS IN THE FLORA VISTA AREA. DEPUTIES SAY VANDALS HIT UP AT LEAST 10 OVER THE WEEKEND. THE VANDALS SMASHED ELECTRICAL PANELS, DRAINED FUEL TANKS... AND REMOVED RADIATOR DIPSTICKS. DEPUTIES SAY THE TOTAL COST OF THE DAMAGE IS AT LEAST 100-THOUSAND DOLLARS. 'the problem that we have got of course is that there are over 24,000 well sites in san juan county. And we do not want this to take place again. It disrupts production and again...it's a cost to the company that gets through to the consumer' ALL 10 OF THE DAMAGED OIL WELL SITES ARE OWNED BY CONOCO-PHILLIPS. SHERIFF'S DEPUTIES SAY THERE'S A POSSIBILITY THAT WHOEVER DID THIS MAY BE A DISGRUNTLED FORMER EMPLOYEE. WE CONTACTED CONOCO PHILLIPS TODAY FOR COMMENT. OUR CALLS WERE NOT RETURNED. DOWNTOWN ALBUQUERQUE'S NIGHT-LIFE SCENE WON'T INCLUDE COPS MARCHING PRISONERS IN HANDCUFFS FOR MUCH LONGER. THE PRISONER TRANSPORT UNIT AT FIRST AND GOLD WILL SOON BECOME A POLICE SUBSTATION - INSTEAD OF A HOLDING CELL FOR ARRESTED PEOPLE WAITING TO BE HAULED OFF TO THE COUNTY JAIL ON THE FAR WEST SIDE. COPS WILL USE THE OLD METRO COURTHOUSE A FEW BLOCKS AWAY TO HOLD THOSE PRISONERS - AND ALLOW MANY OF THEM TO POST BOND OR GET OUT ON THEIR OWN RECOGNIZANCE - WITHOUT A TRIP TO JAIL. ' you're not gonna have people coming out of the movie theaters for example - being exposed to prisoners in handcuffs - the goal is to remove the undesirables from the downtown area and that includes prisoners - so we're gonna stick 'em in another part of town away from the downtown business district.' POLICE SAY THE NEW SETUP WILL HELP THEM OPERATE MORE EFFICIENTLY - AND SAVE TAXPAYERS A LOT OF MONEY. IT WILL ALSO HELP EASE THE OVERCROWDING PROBLEM AT THE COUNTY JAIL. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SAY A 14 YEAR OLD BOY WHO WAS SHOT LAST NIGHT ON ALBUQUERQUE'S WESTSIDE HAS DIED. AROUND 10-30 LAST NIGHT -- POLICE SAY THE TEEN WAS SHOT IN FRONT OF HIS OWN HOME NEAR UNSER AND ARENAL. HE DIED EARLIER TODAY AT THE HOSPITAL. POLICE ARE LOOKING FOR A RED OR MAROON VEHICLE THAT WAS SEEN LEAVING THE SCENE RIGHT AFTER THE SHOOTING WITH THREE PEOPLE INSIDE. POLICE SAY THE SHOOTING MAY HAVE BEEN GANG- RELATED. IN THE SAME PARK WHERE ALBUQUERQUE KIDS ARE GETTING FREE SUMMER LUNCHES -- POLICE BUST A WOMAN FOR DRUGS -- PEOPLE WE TALKED TO TODAY SAY DRUGS ARE AN ALL TOO COMMON PROBLEM THERE. THE CITY USES LAVALAND PARK -- ON COORS JUST NORTH OF CENTRAL -- AS A PLACE TO HAND OUT FREE LUNCHES TO LOW-INCOME CHILDREN.. ITS ALSO THE SAME PLACE WHERE POLICE FOUND 19 YEAR OLD STEPHANIE MATHIEUS YESTERDAY -- WITH A SYRINGE LOADED WITH HEROIN. WE CHECKED OUT THE PARK TODAY AND FOUND LOTS OF NEEDLES AND OTHER DRUG PARAPHERNALIA... 1:14 'i ve seen a couple of people shoot up or whatever they always go to the far end of the park' 5:26 'its not normal because kids really dont want to see drugs they dont want to get into it when they grow up' WE CALLED THE CITY TO ASK IF THEY PLAN TO PICK UP ALL THE NEEDLES AND JUNK AT LAVALAND PARK... BUT WE HAVE NOT HEARD BACK. THE RACE TO BECOME THE NEXT GOVERNOR OF NEW MEXICO IS GROWING TONIGHT. ACCORDING TO THE 'NEW MEXICO INDEPENDENT' -- DONA ANA COUNTY DISTRICT ATTORNEY -- SUSANA MARINTEZ -- PLANS TO ANNOUNCE SHE'S JOINING THE RACE ON FRIDAY. SHE PLANS TO RUN AS A REPUBLICAN -- PITTING HER AGAINST NEW MEXICO NATIONAL GUARD GENERAL GREG ZANETTI IN 20- 10. THE ONLY OTHER PERSON TO OFFICIALLY ENTER THE RACE is LIEUTENANT GOVERNOR DIANE DENISH. THE DEMOCRAT ANNOUNCED HER PLANS TO RUN 3 YEARS AGO. IF YOU HAVE CHILDREN GOING BACK TO SCHOOL NEXT MONTH... LISTEN UP. TODAY THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THIS YEAR'S BACK-TO- SCHOOL TAX HOLIDAY WILL BE FROM FRIDAY, AUGUST 7TH THROUGH SUNDAY AUGUST 9TH. ON THAT WEEKEND, SOME SCHOOL SUPPLIES, COMPUTERS AND CLOTHING WILL BE TAX FREE. FOR DETAILS, GO TO KOB DOT COM AND CLICK ON 4 LINKS. PEOPLE IN THE NORTHEAST HEIGHTS HAVE A NEW PLACE TO SHOP. AFTER YEARS OF DEBATE --- THE 24- HOUR WAL-MART SUPERCENTER AT WYOMING AND MENAUL OPENED FOR BUSINESS THIS MORNING. THE NEW STORE, WHICH THE NEIGHBORHOOD ASSOCIATION HELPED DESIGN, IS THE FIRST OF ITS KIND HERE IN NEW MEXICO --- WITH WIDER AISLES AND A NEW LAYOUT. AND PEOPLE ARE ALREADY NOTICING THE CHANGES. 'I like to have a lot of things in one store, one stop, you know I have three kids. that's all good to me''It's exciting when you get a nice, clean Walmart. Brand new Walmart, in an area where it was needed I think.'THE SUPERCENTER HOPES TO HIRE 500 WORKERS BY THE END OF THE YEAR IF YOU'D LIKE TO APPLY, GO TO OUR WEBSITE, KOB.COM, AND CLICK ON 4 LINKS. A ROUTINE TRAFFIC STOP ENDS WITH POLICE KILLING THE DRIVER JUST BLOCKS FROM THE U.S. CAPITOL. U-S CAPITOL POLICE SAY OFFICERS TRIED TO STOP THE DRIVER, BUT HE TOOK OFF. AFTER HITTING ONE OFFICER WHO WAS ON FOOT, THE DRIVER WENT THE WRONG WAY DOWN A STREET AND STRUCK ANOTHER CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER ON A MOTORCYCLE. MOMENTS LATER, HE STOPPED -- AND THAT'S WHEN POLICE SHOT AND KILLED HIM. THE OFFICERS WHO WERE HIT WERE NOT SERIOUSLY HURT. POLICE BRIEFLY SEALED OFF PART OF THE CAPITOL AS A PRECAUTION. U-S SUPREME COURT NOMINEE SONIA SOTOMAYOR REFUSED TO REVEAL HER VIEWS ON ABORTION RIGHTS -- BUT WAS STILL PRESSED HARD ON THE ISSUE TODAY. DURING DAY THREE OF HER CONFIRMATION HEARINGS -- REPUBLICAN SENATOR TOM COBURN OF OKLAHOMA ASKED SOTOMAYOR QUOTE.... 'IF DOCTORS DEVELOP WAYS FOR BABIES TO SURVIVE OUTSIDE THE WOMB AT AN EARLIER STAGE THAN IS NOW POSSIBLE, SHOULD ABORTION RESTRICTIONS BE TIGHTENED?'SOTOMAYOR REFUSED TO ANSWER -- BUT TOLD SENATORS IT IS CLEAR WHAT THE LAW IS NOW. '...that a woman has a constitutional right to terminate her pregnancy in certain circumstances.' SOTOMAYOR WAS ALSO ASKED ABOUT A NUMBER OF OTHER CONTROVERSIAL ISSUES TODAY -- INCLUDING GUN CONTROL AND THE DEATH PENALTY. BUT AFTER 3 DAYS OF HEARINGS, SOME REPUBLICANS ADMIT IT LOOKS LIKE SOTOMAYOR WILL TO BE CONFIRMED. THE CONFIRMATION HEARINGS ARE EXPECTED TO WRAP UP TOMORROW. THE SENATE'S HEALTH COMMITTEE HAS APPROVED A 615 BILLION DOLLAR HEALTH REFORM PLAN... 13 DEMOCRATS VOTED YES TO THE PLAN TODAY -- 10 REPUBLICANS VOTED NO. THE PLAN REQUIRES EVERYONE TO BUY HEALTH INSURANCE AND REQUIRES MOST EMPLOYERS TO PROVIDE IT. IT ALSO HELPS POOR FAMILIES PAY FOR IT AND CREATES AN 'EXCHANGE'WHERE INSURERS - AND THE GOVERNMENT - COMPETE FOR YOUR BUSINESS. 'We regret that the Republicans did not support this bill even though we gave them hours of debate.''They're hiding those costs with budget gimmickry -- and it's not fair.' THERE'S A SIMILAR PLAN IN THE HOUSE THAT WOULD TAX PEOPLE MAKING OVER 350-THOUSAND DOLLARS TO PAY FOR UNIVERSAL COVERAGE. MEANWHILE... PRESIDENT OBAMA WANTS BOTH HOUSES TO FINISH THEIR VERSIONS BY THE AUGUST RECESS, SO WORK ON A COMPROMISE CAN START IN SEPTEMBER. THERE COULD BE A FIREBUG ROAMING AROUND VALENCIA COUNTY TONIGHT. NOW AUTHORITIES ARE TRYING TO TRACK DOWN WHO'S BEHIND A RASH OF BURNED HOMES THIS WEEK. THE STORY-- TONIGHT AT TEN. IT'S A STORY YOU SAW FIRST ON 4--- NOW-- WE'RE FOLLOWING NEW DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING A POSSIBLE HEROIN RING AT ELDORADO HIGH. DETAILS TONIGHT ON EYEWITNESS NEWS FOUR AT TEN. BUT STILL AHEAD AT 6-30 -- SEE WHAT CHANGES HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY JANET NAPOLITANO WANTS TO MAKE TO YOUR DRIVER'S LICENSE.... AND FIND OUT WHY UNITED BLOOD SERVICES IN ALBUQUERQUE SAYS IT DESPERATELY NEEDS HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS. UNITED BLOOD SERVICES PLANS TO EXPAND ITS MAIN CENTER IN ALBUQUERQUE -- BUT IS SHORT ON CASH RIGHT NOW TO DO THAT. THE CENTER ON UNIVERSITY NEAR INDIAN SCHOOL HELD A FUNDRAISER THIS MORNING TO HELP BRING IN THE 200- THOUSAND DOLLARS IT NEEDS TO EXPAND. THE CENTER SERVES AS A BLOOD COLLECTION SITE FOR THE ENTIRE STATE OF NEW MEXICO. IT HAS BEEN IN THE SAME BUILDING SINCE 19-82 -- WHICH THE ORGANIZATION HAS SINCE OUTGROWN. We need to be able to accommodate more donors and process more people to come into the building so we can keep up with the state's demand for blood. UNITED BLOOD SERVICES HOPES TO COLLECT ENOUGH DONATIONS BY THIS FALL -- SO IT CAN START CONSTRUCTION THIS WINTER. IF ALL GOES AS PLANNED -- THE EXPANSION SHOULD BE FINISHED EARLY NEXT YEAR. HOMELAND SECURITY SECRETARY JANET NAPOLITANO SAYS THE COUNTRY NEEDS TO MAKE DRIVER'S LICENSES MORE SECURE. SHE SAYS A NEW PROGRAM SUPPORTED BY THE OBAMA ADMINISTRATION WOULD HELP THWART TERRORISTS. SHE SAYS INSTEAD OF A DRIVER'S LICENSE, DRIVERS WOULD BE GIVEN A 'PASS I-D CARD.' THE NEW CARD WOULD REPLACE THE BUSH ADMINISTRATION'S PROPOSED 'REAL I-D CARD.' NAPOLITANO INTRODUCED HER IDEA TO SENATORS THIS MORNING. 'Secure identification certainly won't thwart every planned terrorist attack, but it can present an obstacle and give another counterterrorism tool to law enforcement that we need.'CRITICS OF THE NEW PROGRAM SAY THE 'PASS I-D' CARD WOULD RELAX RULES ENACTED AFTER THE SEPTEMBER 11TH TERRORIST ATTACKS. THERE'S WORD TONIGHT FROM SPAIN THAT THE OLDEST WOMAN ON RECORD TO EVER GIVE BIRTH HAS DIED. MARIA DEL CARMEN BOUSADA GAVE BIRTH TO TWINS IN DECEMBER 2006 AT THE AGE OF 66. SHE LIED ABOUT HER AGE TO THE FERTILITY CLINIC IN LOS ANGELES THAT HELPED HER GET PREGNANT, SAYING SHE WAS 55. A MILITARY REPORT IS CALLING FOR MORE STUDIES INTO THE LINK BETWEEN COMBAT AND AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AFTER TROOPS GET HOME. THIS, AFTER 14 SOLDIERS FROM A COLORADO UNIT WERE ACCUSED IN A SERIES OF KILLINGS AND OTHER CRIMES AFTER RETURNING FROM IRAQ. THE REPORT SAYS THE FORT CARSON UNIT NICKNAMED THE 'LETHAL WARRIORS' HAD SUFFERED HEAVY LOSSES IN IRAQ AND SOME MEMBERS REPORTED WITNESSING WAR CRIMES. ALL 168 PEOPLE ABOARD AN IRANIAN PASSENGER PLANE ARE DEAD AFTER THE RUSSIAN-MADE PLANE CRASHED INTO A FIELD AFTER TAKING OFF FROM TEHRAN. THE PLANE--HEADED FOR ARMENIA--- GOUGED A DEEP TRENCH IN THE GROUND AS IT SHATTERED INTO PIECES. IRAN'S AIRLINES ARE PLAGUED BY MAINTENANCE PROBLEMS AND HAVE HAD NUMEROUS CRASHES IN RECENT YEARS. THE SIXTH TIME PROVED TO BE A CHARM TODAY FOR THE SPACE SHUTTLE ENDEAVOUR. nat liftoff 3-2-1 THE SHUTTLE AND 7 ASTRONAUTS BLASTED OFF THIS AFTERNOON -- HAULING UP THE FINAL PIECE OF A BILLION DOLLAR JAPANESE LABORATORY TO THE INTERNATIONAL SPACE STATION. OVER THE LAST MONTH -- BAD WEATHER AND TWO HYDROGEN GAS LEAKS FORCED FIVE OTHER LAUNCH ATTEMPTS TO BE SCRUBBED. THE MISSION IS EXPECTED TO LAST 16 DAYS... WITH FIVE SPACE WALKS. IT WAS 40 YEARS AGO TOMORROW THAT NASA MADE AN HISTORICAL TRIP TO THE MOON. ON JULY 16TH, 19- 69, APOLLO 11 LAUNCHED FROM KENNEDY SPACE CENTER ON THE FIRST MANNED MISSION TO LAND ON THE MOON. NASA ASTRONAUTS NEIL ARMSTRONG, BUZZ ALDRIN AND MICHAEL COLLINS WERE ON BOARD THE SPACECRAFT. FOUR DAYS LATER, ALDRIN AND ARMSTRONG BECAME THE FIRST MEN TO WALK ON THE MOON. THERE'S STILL MORE AHEAD AT 6- 30... WE'LL TAKE YOU TO ONE NEW MEXICO CITY AS IT GETS READY FOR A BIG WEEKEND OF BULL RIDING. SET-UP HAS BEGUN FOR THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FINALS RODEO IN FARMINGTON. FOR THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FINALS RODEO IN FARMINGTON. ORGANIZERS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO SET UP BOOTHS, SEATING AREAS, AND THEY'RE GETTING THE HORSE TRACK READY FOR ACTION. THIS YEAR WILL MARK THE 61ST ANNUAL YEAR FOR THE EVENT. IT'S BEEN HOSTED IN FARMINGTON THE EVENT. IT'S BEEN HOSTED IN FARMINGTON SINCE THE EARLY 90'S. SET-UP HAS BEGUN FOR THE NATIONAL FOR THE NATIONAL HIGH SCHOOL FINALS RODEO IN FARMINGTON. ORGANIZERS ARE WORKING AROUND THE CLOCK TO GET EVERYTHING READY FOR ACTION. THIS YEAR WILL MARK THE 61ST ANNUAL YEAR FOR THE EVENT. IT'S BEEN HOSTED IN FARMINGTON SINCE THE EARLY 90'S. 'we're excited about all the people. We hear it's gonna be well over 10,000 people. We have large booths to set up still, so we have a lot of work, but it'll be good' REGISTRATION FOR THOSE WANTING TO PARTICIPATE IN THE RODEO STARTS TOMORROW ... THE EVENT WILL LAST UNTIL THE 25-TH OF JULY AT FARMINGTON'S MCGEE PARK. A COUPLE OF ALBUQUERQUE FIREFIGHTERS OUT COLLECTING DONATIONS FOR A GOOD CAUSE -- END UP HELPING POLICE CATCH A DRUNK SHOPLIFTER. ' We seen a gentleman coming out of the store with a basketfull of - looked like a couple of entertainment center tables - something like that - think it was Atari or something like that - he was carrying it out at a pretty high rate of speed - he was moving pretty fast.'ELLIOT KNIGHTON AND GABE GALLEGOS WERE OUT COLLECTING MONEY FOR THE FILL THE BOOT CAMPAIGN WHEN THEY NOTICED THE MAN -- AND AN EMPLOYEE RUNNING AFTER HIM. THE FIREFIGHTERS STOPPED THE MAN BEARING HUNDREDS OF DOLLARS IN STOLEN MERCHANDISE-- AND POLICE CAME AND ARRESTED HIM.  « Less