ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. – Local law enforcement officers wear the badge, knowing the risks that come with it. But Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina said now more than ever people are going to extreme lengths to avoid arrest. 

“We have just seen individuals become more and more brazen toward our officers,” Medina said. 

Medina has been APD’s chief since October 2020. He said since, seven officers have been shot and four have been injured by shrapnel. The most recent happened Friday. An Albuquerque police sergeant is recovering after a man shot him at a Northeast Albuquerque apartment complex. Police returned fire, killing the suspect. 

“It was really hard for me as chief to sit there and say like, man our officers each and every day are having to be exposed to this,” said Medina. 

A spokesperson for the department said in the last three months it’s had 15 arrests involved charges including battery, assault, or aggravated assault on a peace officer in its southeast area command. Chief Medina said most of the people threatening police have been in trouble with them before. 

“It’s once again a symptom of what we’re going through as a state with some of these repeat offenders, individuals who have histories of violence and juvenile crime,” Medina said.

While he said mental health issues and access to firearms are partly to blame, they’re not all using guns. In October, an officer was dragged by a vehicle after the driver took off during a traffic stop. An APD spokesperson said they’ve seen a handful of incidents where people ram into patrol units during DWI traffic stops. 

As far as solutions go, Chief Medina is hoping lawmakers will find new ways during the session to hold criminals accountable.