By Nakayla McClelland
Albuquerque Journal, N.M.
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M.— The Albuquerque Police Department on Monday released statistics showing that there has been a “major reduction” in crime in all categories, and the police chief suggested the National Guard members working in Albuquerque could be redeployed for other missions around the state “in the near future.”
“The data confirms that Albuquerque’s crime reduction is outpacing national trends, a testament to focused enforcement, strategic policing and strong community collaboration,” Gilbert Gallegos, spokesperson for APD, said in a news release.
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The statistics compared the number of crimes in each category from January- September 2024 to statistics from 2025, except homicides and shootings with injury, which are tracked individually and are the year-to-date statistics.
Of the statistics, motor vehicle theft saw the biggest decrease of 40% or 1,811 fewer thefts. Larceny and theft saw the smallest decrease with 12,114 offenses compared to 13,261 in 2024, an 8% decrease. Homicides are also down. There have been 18 fewer homicides so far this year compared to the same day last year, according to APD.
Incumbent Mayor Tim Keller, who is running for a third term, immediately addressed the timing of the news conference coinciding with his campaign, which he told the Journal on election night would focus on crime and crime-fighting technology. Keller and candidate Darren White, a former Bernalillo County sheriff, will face each other in a runoff election on Dec. 9.
Keller acknowledged that while the numbers show a decrease in crime, residents’ perception of crime may not reflect those numbers.
“I understand that the perception may not be that crime is going down, in fact, I would agree with that perception,” he said. “But I will tell you if we continue doing this for several more years, we will absolutely feel safer because we are safer.”
An October Journal Poll showed that 53% of Albuquerque voters cited crime as the biggest issue in the city, followed by homelessness. Police Chief Harold Medina said that many people’s perceptions of crime may be conflated with homelessness and that APD is judged by a few blocks between Wyoming and Louisiana.
“The vast majority of issues we’re finding ourselves in is we have a concentration of the unhoused mainly in these areas,” Medina said. “It’s the fear of the unhoused that is making individuals feel unsafe in this city and we will continue to address those issues.”
Keller outlined the successes of APD, highlighting the city’s increased investment in crime-fighting technology like license plate readers and speed cameras, civilians — like Albuquerque Community Safety — aiding in assisting APD and freeing up officers and an increase in police force numbers.
“Our arrest numbers are higher than they have ever been because of civilians and technology, but also because our officers are working hard and they are making the real difference that is driving crime down,” Keller said. “What we’ve done is essentially free them up and support them so they can do that better than before.”
Along with ACS, Medina credited the National Guard for assisting APD and allowing more officers to hit the streets.
“They did a great job in assisting us to clear up officers, I think somewhere near 8,000 hours,” Medina said. “I suppose in the near future, they will have to go and they have other missions around the state with other cities that are suffering the same issues we see in Albuquerque.”
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