Law enforcement provide update on Operation Route 66 in Albuquerque
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – While the Albuquerque Police Department and the New Mexico National Guard will ramp up their crime-fighting mission on Central Ave. next week, the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Office and Bernalillo County District Attorney's Office, along with New Mexico State Police, said they won't stop their three-month operation on the same stretch.
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Operation Route 66 has led to at least 700 arrests since February on Central Ave. east of San Mateo Blvd. While they consider it a success, the agencies behind this said they're not going away, even with the National Guard's APD operation expected to hit full force by the end of the month. 'I want to deliver a direct message to the criminals that think they have managed to slip through the cracks thus far your time is running out your days of terrorizing this community are coming to an end when your luck runs out and it will you will meet the consequences the age of lawlessness is over,' said Chief Troy Weisler, New Mexico State Police.
'We're a fairly nimble group, so we will be out and about, and we will go where the crime is happening,' said Sam Bregman.
The agencies behind the operation also said Monday that they're looking to expand beyond their work on Central Ave., but they didn't identify a specific location. District Attorney Sam Bregman said about 100 deputies, officers, and agents are working in the east central corridor weekly as part of Operation Route 66.
Since February, they've cleared over 500 outstanding warrants. Seven homicide suspects have also been arrested. So far, the group said there is no end date for the operation. 'Look, there's different arms of the government in the criminal justice system. It's time for them to do their jobs because I know we are doing ours, so it's time for them to step up to keep people in jail or whatever they are going to do,' said Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen.
Other stats from the operation include more than 60 stolen cars recovered and more than 50 guns taken off the street that were either in the hands of felons or marked stolen. The operation is being partly funded by warrant enforcement money from the state legislature.
APD's operation Zia Shield is expected to add up to 71 National Guard members helping officers along east Central Ave. by May 31.
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