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WEBVTT RAMIREZ, KOAT ACTION 7 NEWS.- NEXT STORY -SHELLY: WHEN IT COMES TOMISDEMEANOR OFFENSES, APDOFFICERS WILL NO LONGER BEMAKING ARRESTS.IN AN E-MAIL SENT TO COPS TODAY,CHIEF GORDEN EDEN ASKED THAT HISOFFICERS TURN TO CITATIONSINSTEAD OF THE CUFFS.THE ORDER COULD IMPACT DRUG,SHOPLIFTING, AND PROSTITUTIONCASES.ACTION 7 NEWS REPORTER MATTHOWERTON JOINS US FROM APD TOEXPLAIN.MATT: SHELLY.COPS AREN'T HAPPY ABOUT THIS.UNION OFFICIALS TELL ME THISWILL ONLY MAKE CRIME HERE IN THECITY WORSE.BUT, WHEN IT COMES TO THISDECISION, APD DIDN'T HAVE MUCHOF A CHOICE.TAKE A LOOK.ALBUQUERQUE COPS WILL LONGER BEREACHING FOR THE CUFFS WHEN ITCOMES TO CERTAIN CRIMES.>> THIS IS SO DEMORALIZING FORPOLICE OFFICERS.MATT: TODAY, CHIEF GORDEN EDENSENT A VIDEO TO THE DEPARTMENT.IN IT, HE SAYS OFFICERS SHOULDSTRIVE TO GIVE OUT CITATIONSWHEN DEALING WITH NONVIOLENTMISDEMEANOR CRIMES.AND TO AVOID ARRESTS, UNLESSIT'S ABSOLUTELY NECESSARY.THOSE CRIMES RANGE FROMSHOPLIFTING, TO PROSTITUTION.POSSESSION OF DRUGS AND CRIMINALDAMAGE TO PROPERTY UNDER $1000.>> IT USED TO BE, IF YOU BROKETHE LAW, GOING TO THE JAIL WAS APOTENTIAL MUSTARD.-- POTENTIAL HAZARD.>> UNION PRESIDENT SHAUNWILLOUGHBY SAYS THIS NEW ORDERONLY GIVES CRIMINALS ANINCENTIVE TO BREAK THE LAW.>> APPREHENSION AND GOING TOJAIL FOR BREAKING THE LAW IS ADETERRENT BY ITSELF.NOW, WHAT WE TELLING OURCRIMINALS?IF YOU SHOPLIFT, CAN'T TAKE YOUTO JAIL.MATT: BUT APD DIDN'T HAVE MUCHOF A SAY IN ALL OF THIS.THIS ORDER IS A RESULT OF THEMCCLENDON LAWSUIT, A 20 PLUSYEAR LEGAL BATTLE AGAINST THECITY AND COUNTY THAT WAS SETTLEDRECENTLY.IN THAT LAWSUIT, AN INMATEARRESTED FOR A NONVIOLENTMISDEMEANOR CHARGE SUED OVER THECONDITIONS INSIDE THE COUNTYLOCKUP.SO LIKE IT OR NOT, THIS IS HOWIT'S GOING TO BE.AND THE UNION CAN'T STAND IT.>> THE REAL THING YOU NEED TOTELL THE COMMUNITY IS GOOD LUCK.GOOD LUCK, BECAUSE WE ARE THEBEST PLACE IN THE COUNTRY TO BEA CRIMINAL.MATT: IT'S IMPORTANT TO NOTETHAT THIS ORDER DOES NOT IMPACT

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In a letter to all sworn personnel, Chief Eden told Albuquerque Police officers on Tuesday that they shall no longer arrest individuals for non-violent misdemeanor offenses. The chief's letter goes on to say that officers are to issue a citation to offenders instead. Some misdemeanor offenses that may be affected include criminal trespass, criminal damage to property under $1,000, shoplifting under $500, shoplifting under $250, prostitution, and receiving or possessing stolen property under $100. The new directive is a result of the 20-plus year McClendon Lawsuit that was settled by a federal judge. That lawsuit, filed against the city and Bernalillo County by an inmate arrested for a non-violent misdemeanor, primarily focused on the conditions within the county lockup. According to the chief's letter, "officers shall issue citations when appropriate in lieu of arrest on non-violent misdemeanor offenses when there are no circumstances necessitating an arrest." DWI offenses will not be impacted. The letter goes on to say that officers may make an arrest if it is necessary, but will have to include the reason why in an incident report. In addition, the letter says officers now have the opportunity to take offenders wanted for non-violent misdemeanor offenses to Metropolitan Court to resolve warrants or fines instead of hauling them off to jail. However, the individual must have the full amount of the fine or bond in cash. They also cannot go through a bonding agency. In the letter, officers were told that they can't wait for the individual to get money from a friend or relative. On Tuesday, spokesperson Celina Espinoza says many of these practices are already being performed by officers and that the letter was merely a formality. Shaun Willoughby, the President of the Albuquerque Police Officer's Association, wasn't pleased to read the letter. "The word 'shall' scares me a lot," Willoughby said. "In the past we could use our discretion when dealing with misdemeanor offenses." Willoughby says he fears making citations a priority. "Now, if someone breaks a business owner's window and we have the suspect in custody--I have to go ask the business owner how much the window is instead of taking that suspect to jail." "Jail is a deterrent for crime...what about now?" The Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office, which also faces impacts from the McClendon settlement, says deputies still have discretion on misdemeanor crimes that occur in their presence. A spokesperson said that deputies can issue a citation, a summons, or make an arrest. They added that there is no order of importance. The department, like APD, says arrests are a must when it comes to DWI cases.