01-04-2025
Albuquerque's Civilian Response Team Marks 100K Calls
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Albuquerque's civilian emergency response team marked its 100,000th call three-and-a-half years into service. Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) launched in 2021 as part of the city's effort to provide a more specialized approach to behavioral health, homelessness, and non-violent related 911 emergencies.
Walter Adams was one of the first five responders and is now ACS's Deputy Director of Field Operations. This week on the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast, Adams joins Chris and Gabby to explain how the department is measuring its success and the rapid growth it has experienced.
Is ACS making a dent in homelessness? Does having this third option help relieve police and fire crews? Those questions and more are discussed in the full interview above.
Adams addresses some misconceptions about the department, including the idea that they only respond to calls related to homelessness. He also explains the efforts behind the Violent Intervention Program and Opiod Education Program, aimed at stopping cycles of violence and helping people recover from opioid addiction.
Stay informed with the latest news by subscribing to the New Mexico News Insiders Podcast wherever you listen. Download new episodes of the New Mexico News Insiders every Tuesday, starting around 5:30 a.m., Mountain time. Episodes are available on most podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Podbean, among others.
You can also watch our podcasts in video form, both on-air and online. Tune in to an abbreviated version of the New Mexico News Insiders podcast on broadcast television every Wednesday at 10:35 p.m. on Fox New Mexico. Full video episodes are posted on KRQE's YouTube page at
Having trouble finding the show? Try searching your favorite podcast player with the term 'KRQE' or 'New Mexico News Insiders' (without the quotes). You can also use the links above to find the podcast on each service or listen to the audio player at the top of this post.
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