National Guard Deployed to Albuquerque: What Officers Need to Know
- Apr 13
- 2 min read
The Situation
On April 8, 2025, New Mexico Governor Michelle Lujan Grisham declared a state of emergency in Albuquerque and approved the deployment of 60–70 National Guard troops to assist local law enforcement. The announcement followed a formal request from APD Chief Harold Medina, who cited rising juvenile crime and the fentanyl crisis as key drivers behind the need for immediate support.
The Guard is expected to begin operations by mid-May and will be assigned to non-enforcement roles designed to free up officers for critical law enforcement tasks.
What the Guard Will Be Doing
The deployment is structured to supplement—not replace—Albuquerque Police Department personnel. National Guard troops will handle:
Traffic control
Crime scene security
Drone operations
Supply logistics
Support for large-scale responses
Their presence is focused largely on high-crime areas, particularly along Central Avenue, a corridor historically plagued by drug activity, property crimes, and street-level violence.
Why It’s Happening
Although APD leadership notes that overall crime is trending downward, the department is stretched thin by resource shortages, especially amid the ongoing strain of the fentanyl epidemic. According to Chief Medina, juvenile crime has spiked, and officers are frequently tied up on tasks that could be delegated.
The Governor’s response follows a similar move she made in 2021, though this time the scope is more targeted and explicitly designed to relieve operational burden rather than enforce laws.
Why This Matters for Law Enforcement Nationwide
Even if you're not in New Mexico, this deployment raises issues every agency should be thinking about:
1. Support Roles Still Require Oversight
Even when troops are only performing support functions, the presence of military personnel in civilian spaces increases scrutiny. Officers need to be clear on who is doing what, and how operations are supervised to avoid blurred lines that can lead to liability.
2. Public Perception and Trust
Deploying the National Guard can boost short-term capacity, but it also risks public concern over militarization. Officers on the ground need to balance firm enforcement with strong community engagement to prevent fear-based backlash.
3. This Could Happen Anywhere
Fentanyl is not unique to Albuquerque. Neither is staffing stress or rising youth violence. If your city faced a similar spike tomorrow, would your agency have the capacity to handle it without outside support? This is a moment to evaluate your mutual aid agreements, traffic unit staffing, and investigative coverage.
Final Thoughts
The Albuquerque deployment is a reminder that local law enforcement alone can’t carry the weight forever—especially when resources are strained and officers are juggling court, calls, and complex investigations.
But it also highlights a deeper issue: if officers are too busy guarding a scene or directing traffic to proactively police or build relationships, public safety suffers. The fix isn’t always more cops. Sometimes, it’s using the right people for the right job.
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