The Albuquerque Police Department plans to reinstate about 25 reserve officers after reports that a volunteer officer went undercover to nab suspected prostitutes prompted new department rules forbidding volunteers from making arrests and signing complaints.
David Young, who has been a civilian police employee for 11 years, was involved in 24 arrests of prostitutes since 2006 as a reserve officer. He identified himself in at least one complaint as a detective.
Albuquerque defense attorneys have called Young's actions an outrageous abuse of power.
Police Chief Ray Schultz suspended the reserve officer program in August and initiated a policy review.
Schultz said Tuesday that he expects the more comprehensive policy will be approved by a police department review board. The reserve officers will likely return to their jobs in November, he said.
The draft policy would boost the amount of training for reserve officers from 450 hours to 920 hours, the same as a regular officer, Schultz said. It also would require reserve officers to wear silver tags on their shoulders and reserve badges to identify themselves.
The volunteers, who would be required to always remain with sworn officers, must work the first eight hours of every month in uniform in the field. If they want to take on other assignments, such as undercover work, Schultz said they must make requests to supervisors in writing.
The policy also would require a reserve officer's supervisor to write monthly reports on their activities and conduct an annual evaluation.
The city attorneys office has been monitoring 47 misdemeanor criminal complaints and 42 traffic citations involving reserve officers.
Six complaints — all involving cases Young worked on — have been dismissed because they were signed by the reserve officer, Schultz said.
Young's attorney, John D'Amato, has said Young's actions were done at the request of and under the supervision of other officers.
Schultz said Young has not been accused of wrongdoing and would be allowed to return to his reserve officer duties.
Source: AP News
