News Archive

The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has achieved a major milestone in its reform efforts. The city has filed a motion to terminate certain portions of the consent decree that has been in place since 2015. The motion was filed in recognition of APD’s sustained compliance with significant portions of the decree. This represents the second major milestone for APD this year.

As of this report, and cumulatively since EFIT went live in July 2021, 50 out of the 991 (5.04%) UOF investigations closed by EFIT/Internal Affairs Force Division (“IAFD”) were found not within the Albuquerque Police Department (“APD”) use of force (“UOF”) policies (this is a 1.39 decrease from what was reported in the previous quarterly report).

The tide began to turn after departmental and leadership changes at APD, according to the monitor’s report, along with the involvement of an external group called the External Force Investigation Team, or EFIT, brought in to clear a case backlog and train IAFD investigators on how to conduct quality and timely investigations.

On June 6, 2023, Darryl Neier (EFIT Administrator) and William Hurlock (Deputy Administrator) presented the External Force Investigative Team 7th Quarterly Report (Doc. 995) in an all-day hearing before the Honorable United States District Judge James Browning, District of New Mexico.

The Federal Monitor has issued his 17th report and APD is in 92% operational compliance. He states in the report that “The project with EFIT has been very successful, influencing the quality and timeliness of use of force investigations at APD”.

The Justice Department announced today that it has joined with the City of Albuquerque in filing a motion seeking changes to the requirements of the consent decree regarding the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) after achieving compliance with a vast majority of the consent decree.

ABQ superintendent hails results as a 'success' in CASA compliance. Out of the nearly 300 times when Albuquerque Police Department officers used force in the latter part of 2022, they were found to have followed policies 95% of the time.

The Albuquerque Internal Affairs Force Division is split with 18 civilians and 19 sworn staff — which a spokeswoman said ensures both perspectives are represented. They are being trained by the External Force Investigation Team out of Florida, an effort that has won praise from the DOJ and the Independent Monitor.

Mr. Darryl Neier, Managing Member of DLG Consulting and Advisory Services, stated that as the EFIT Administrator, he was honored to have participated and testified at the Status Conference held before The Honorable James O. Browing, United States District Judge for the District of New Mexico on December 6, 2022 (Doc. 973).

The latest report from the external team helping the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) review instances of police use of force shows that APD has made a “dramatic reduction” in the percent of forceful interactions that are “out of policy.” In July 2021 almost 10 out of every 100 forceful interactions were out of policy. But by the end of September 2022, that was down to five out of every 100, the report shows.

Although the Albuquerque Police Department continues to make significant gains in the court-ordered reform effort, there have been more shootings by officers this year than during any other – including the years when a Department of Justice investigation found that APD had a pattern and practice of excessive force.

EFIT just filed their 5th Quarterly Report with the United States District Court for the District of New Mexico (Doc. 960).

For the second reporting period in a row the Albuquerque Police Department continued to make substantial progress in its federally-mandated reform effort. After a couple of years of backsliding and turmoil, the department is once again in the highest level of compliance with the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (called the CASA). In May, after the monitor’s 15th report, city officials said for the first time that they have set a goal to be in full compliance by spring 2024.

Now in its second year of work with the city, EFIT has provided four reports since November 2021. Their latest fourth quarterly report covers a timeframe from April 22, 2022, to August 5, 2022. It suggests that APD’s use of force investigations are improving in terms of following the rules.

The EFIT Executive Team is pleased to report that, pursuant to the established protocols to begin to transition IAFD Detective/Investigators to conduct interviews without EFIT’s direct supervision, 11 IAFD personnel are progressing through the Phases of the system that will ultimately lead to an IAFD Detective/Investigators conducting UOF investigations without direct supervision of EFIT.

At a news conference on Wednesday, Chief Administrative Officer Lawrence Rael said,“We are now beginning to see that the morale in this department is starting to lift,” he said. “That the work that the department has done from every level of the department – from the chief’s office to the rank-and-file officer in the field – that the reform is taking place and taking hold. That’s really important. It’s good for Albuquerque and our community. But it’s especially important for this department to continue to move forward.”

Pursuant to the relevant documents, EFIT is on call 24/7 and must respond to all call outs within one hour of notification. All Use of Force (“UOF”) investigations must be completed within 60 days with an additional 30-day supervisory review period for a total of 90 days from start to finish.

The External Force Investigation Team (“EFIT”) continues working with Albuquerque, NM Police and files the Second Quarterly Report with the United States District Court, District of New Mexico (“District Court”).

ALBUQUERQUE – APD is preparing to address a backlog of use-of-force investigations by expanding the mission of a temporary, independent team that has shown success since the program was created last year.

Darryl S. Neier, who was appointed as the External Force Investigation Team Administrator in Albuquerque, NM on May 2, 2021, named New Jersey Attorney William L. Hurlock, Esq. as his Deputy Administrator (https://hurlocklaw.com/) and Darriell Bone as Lead Supervisor. Together they lead a team of 15 EFIT Investigators conducting joint investigations with The Albuquerque Police Department (“APD”) Internal Affairs Force Division (“IAFD”).

A federal judge has approved an order proposing the creation of an outside team to assist the Albuquerque Police Department with investigations into officer-related use of force cases. U.S. District Judge James Browning signed off on the order after a federal court hearing Friday, and said he will issue a written opinion on the matter in April in response to comments he made in court, the Albuquerque Journal reported.

Darryl S. Neier, MS, CFE, CECFE (Managing Director of DLG Accounting and Advisory Services) has been named as a liaison member to the San Fernando Valley Local Elder Abuse Prevention Enhanced Multidisciplinary Team (LEAP EMDT) and will be responsible for forensic/investigative accounting.

Darryl Neier was privileged to provide Financial Records Examination and Analysis training in conjunction with the National White Collar Crime Center (NW3C), to law enforcement and regulators in Columbia, South Carolina.