ALBUQUERQUE – Commissioners in New Mexico’s most populous county have taken another step toward outfitting the sheriff’s department with body cameras as Democratic Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham considers signing legislation that would mandate the equipment for nearly all local law enforcement officers in the state.
The Bernalillo County Commission voted Tuesday to appropriate $1 million that had been approved last year through an administrative resolution.
The money can now be budgeted and used to purchase cameras, support services, subscriptions and other infrastructure needed for the camera systems.
The commission also approved a resolution in support of the pending legislation.
“The County Commission has been urging and requesting the use of body cameras by the Sheriff’s Department for several years,” Commissioner Debbie O’Malley said in a statement. “Now, the governor has the opportunity to make it law.”
If signed by the governor, the legislation would take effect in 90 days.
Bernalillo County Sheriff Manuel Gonzales has resisted the call for body cameras and said Tuesday’s move by the commission is of little consequence to the sheriff’s office because the legislation has yet to be signed.
“Over the past year, my staff has been working diligently on researching and studying the most advanced recording technology systems,” he said in a statement. “If technology is lawfully imposed on all law enforcement, I have a direction and will do everything in my power to use it for securing the constitutional rights and safety of all citizens.”
Under the legislation, video must be archived for 120 days, and police agencies that flout the camera requirement could be sued for withholding evidence.
The bill also includes sanctions for police convicted for unlawful use of force or failure to stop excessive force by colleagues – permanently revoking police certification unless the conviction is pardoned by the governor.
The police accountability reforms would provide exceptions for tribal authorities.
Critics have said the mandates would be financially burdensome for police agencies.
