22-04-2025
APS, APD partner up to bring back Campus Crime Stoppers
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – After months of planning, Albuquerque Public Schools (APS), and the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) are relaunching 'Campus Crime Stoppers' in some local schools- bringing back the once successful program amid a spike in juvenile crime.
'We are seeing an increase in more serious crime when it involved juveniles,' said Cecily Barker, Deputy Chief of Police for APD.
It's a new partnership between Albuquerque schools, and police; with a hope on making a dent in cracking down on juvenile crime, by turning to students for help.
'In the reporting, students will be able to identify campuses that will be directedly connected to school personnel, whether it be at the site, or the district level, who can take action,' said Gabe Jacquez, Deputy Superintendent of Operations for APS.
The Campus Crimestoppers program allows students and school workers to once-again anonymously report crimes seen on campus. Using a QR code, APS is encouraging older students to report concerns they see. Those QR codes are now going up on posters around all APS middle and high school walls.
'It creates a feeling of safety for our schools, and I think many individuals in our school communities feel safe when they see that presence of law enforcement in our schools,' Jacquez explained.
The district says all reports will be confidential. The hope is that students will feel comfortable coming forward with information about potential criminal activity- especially if it's a friend. District leaders say every report is considered credible, until an investigation proves otherwise.
'We jump on it until it's not, and we research those out and follow up until the end,' Jacquez added.
Police say they've seen more students bring guns to school over the last year, and hope this new program can help change that.
'Whether it be a student reporting overhearing a conversation or knowing that another student in class has a firearm, or has been involved in some type of crime,' Barker said.
APS says they are giving all middle and high school students stickers with the code on it. Students can also report crimes through text message, phone calls, or online through the APS website.
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