Leadership and Divisions

Division created to promote transparency and compliance with the Department of Justice.  This includes review and creation of policy as well as statistical analysis of policy compliance.

The I.A. Force Division is responsible for investigation use of force and provide training and guidance to police officers.

The Police Academy Division includes Basic Training, Advanced Training, Recruiting/Backgrounds and Field Training and Evaluation Program.

I.A. Professional Standards oversees department complaints and policy violations including investigations of police misconduct.

The Crisis Intervention Section includes Crisis Intervention Detectives, who work with mental health providers to offer intervention for those suffering from mental illness.  C.I.U. also includes the mobile crisis team for on the spot care for individuals in crisis.

The Criminal Investigation Division  oversees investigations into violent crimes against persons. This division includes the Homicide Unit, Armed Robbery Unit, Missing Person(s) Unit, Sex Crimes, and Crimes Against Children Unit’s.

Criminal Enforcement Division investigates property crimes such as auto-theft, and organized property crimes. This also includes APD’s various “IMPACT” teams who work closely with Field Services for a variety of street level investigations.

Under Investigative Services, you will find APD’s Gang Unit, Gun Violence Reduction, and other support divisions that assist with investigations.  Also included is APD’s Narcotics Unit and Intelligence Units.

The APD Crime Lab is housed under the Scientific Evidence Division. This includes the Major Crime Scene team who respond to violent crimes to collect and categorize evidence. The evidence then goes to the Metropolitan Forensic Science Center for processing through one or more of APDs various evidence technical analysts.

At the base of the Sandia Mountains, you will find the Foothills Area Command. Foothills is the smallest of the seven area commands.

The Northeast Area Command is the most populated of APD’s command districts. It includes both large residential and commercial districts.

The Northwest Area Command was established in 2008 and created to break up Albuquerque’s “westside” into two separate areas. Although broken up from the Southwest area, it is still the largest area Command in the City.

The Valley Area Command is the oldest area in the City. It features the Albuquerque Downtown area, as well as rural districts to the North.

When landing by airplane, you will start in the Southeast Area Command. This is the smallest of the area commands but houses a large and diverse population of citizens.

The Southwest Area Command was the City’s largest police command, but was broken up to create smaller police districts. This aided in APD being able to provide quicker response times. This area sits along the Central Avenue corridor as well as Interstate 40.

Aviation officers are housed at the Albuquerque International Sunport. They are responsible for protecting the Sunport and surrounding area and work closely with federal agencies to ensure federal laws and regulations are adhered to at the Albuquerque Sunport.

The Homeland Security Division includes Homeland Security Unit, Metro Court Protection, Prisoner Transport, Air Support, Horse Mounted, and Open Space Units. This division closely monitors sensitive areas for security concerns and assigns the appropriate resources necessary to keep Albuquerque safe.

The Metro Traffic Unit protects Albuquerque’s roadways by investigating traffic collisions including fatal collisions. They also run operations to issue citations and encourage good driving. Included in this division is APD’s DWI Unit who enforce drunk driving laws.

APD’s tactical response teams are housed under the Special Operations Division. SWAT, K-9, and Crisis Negotiators are all a part of S.O.D.

APD’s Emergency Response Team consists of seven teams of eight officers assigned to one sergeant per team. ERT responds to protests, demonstrations, and civil disturbances to ensure safety of participants and allow for free speech and peaceful assembly.

The Real Time Crime Center is located at APD’s Main Police Station. The “RTCC” operates real time analysis of criminal data basis and other systems to provide officers “real time” information on properties and people to increase officer safety.

Operations Review oversees APD’s personnel and automobile fleet.  Operations has a variety of other administrative functions such as equipment and personnel needs analysis.   Op’s Review also creates the annual “Officer Bid” where officers select their shifts.