Friday's top stories: Rainy Friday, APD policy changes, Santa Fe vehicle theft

A WELCOME BACK. BEFORE YOU WALK OUT THE DOOR, SEVEN BIG THINGS WE’RE FOLLOWING FOR YOU TODAY. THE FIRST IS WHETHER CHANCE OF RAIN. ERIC. YEAH, WE ARE JUST PROBABLY A FEW HOURS AWAY FROM THE SNOW AND THEN RAIN MOVING OUR WAY. STEP COLDER OUT THE DOOR THIS MORNING. WE’VE GOT TOES ON THE THERMOMETER. SANTA FE, RIO RANCHO. WE’RE ONE ABOVE FREEZING RIGHT NOW AT THE ALBUQUERQUE SUNPORT. HERE’S A LOOK AT OUR PLANNER BY NINE, 10:00 HERE. THAT’S WHEN THE LEADING EDGE THESE SNOW SHOWERS DO MOVE IN. IT’LL BE A SNOW AND MAKES AND THEN A CHANCE AT RAIN INTO THE MIDDAY HOUR AS WE EVENTUALLY WARM TO ABOUT 50 DEGREES. AND THE CHANCE OF RAIN THIS AFTERNOON SHUTS DOWN AT ABOUT, OH, THREE OR 4:00. AND THEN THIS EVENING IT’LL BE DRY, BUT ALSO QUITE WINDY. WE HAVE THOSE LATER DAY WINDS. HERE THEY ARE UP AROUND 25, SUSTAINED, GUSTY 30 TO 35 AS WE DRY OUT LATE IN THE DAY IN THIS MORNING’S TOP STORIES, NINE WITNESSES ARE EXPECTING HELP TO HELP PROSECUTORS IN THE RUSSELL SHOOTING CASE. THEY RANGE FROM FORENSIC EXPERTS TO EXPLOSIVE EXPERTS AND INCLUDES BRIAN CARPENTER, WHO’S BEEN ALL OVER NATIONAL MEDIA TALKING ABOUT THE CASE. OUR LEGAL EXPERT SAYS WHILE IT’S OKAY TO BRING IN CARPENTER, IT COULD CAUSE ISSUES IF THE CASE DOES GO TO TRIAL. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE LOOKING TO MAKE CHANGES TO BRING DOWN THE NUMBER OF SHOOTINGS INVOLVING OFFICERS. THIS COMES AFTER THE DEPARTMENT REPORTED A RECORD 18 SHOOTINGS LAST YEAR. SOME OF THE CHANGES INCLUDE HANDS ON TRAINING, INCREASED SUPERVISION AND POLICIES FOR CLEARING SCENES. THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THE DEPARTMENT HAS GIVEN A YEARLY OVERVIEW ON THE INCIDENTS. THEY NOW PLAN TO DO THIS. REVIEWS EVERY SIX MONTHS. WE’RE WORKING TO LEARN MORE ABOUT A SHOOTING AT A MALL IN FARMINGTON. IT HAPPENED JUST BEFORE NOON YESTERDAY. POLICE SAY IT WAS AN ISOLATED INCIDENT, RESULTED IN TWO PEOPLE BEING SHOT. ONE VICTIM DIED. ANOTHER WAS TRANSPORTED TO THE HOSPITAL WHERE THEY’RE IN STABLE CONDITION AT LAST CHECK. AT THIS TIME, POLICE DO NOT HAVE A SUSPECT IN CUSTODY. PEOPLE IMPACTED BY THE HERMIT’S PIQUE CATH CANYON FIRE ARE STILL WAITING FOR DAMAGE RELIEF LATER THIS MONTH. FEMA IS GOING TO BE OPENING THREE NEW CLAIMS OFFICES AND THEY’LL BE REACHING OUT TO ANYONE WHO SUBMITTED A CLAIM OF A CALF CANYON HERMITS PEAK FIRE WAS THE LARGEST WILDFIRE IN STATE HISTORY, DESTROYING

Rain and snow showers possible in Albuquerque and other parts of New Mexico, a review of police shootings in the city and Santa Fe is working to battle vehicle theft. Here's what you need to know before you head out the door. WeatherRain and snow showers are possible in Albuquerque on Friday. Temperatures will stay cool and below normal through most of the weekend. Albuquerque Police implementing changes after police shootings in 2022Last year, 2022, was a record year for the Albuquerque Police Department when it comes to police shootings. Within the year, Albuquerque officers were involved in 18 shootings, the first happening on Feb. 1 and the last on Nov. 25.For two months, the department reviewed each shooting looking for trends and places for improvement.Some of the trends include:2/3 of officers involved in the shootings have six or less years of experience8 of the shootings involve someone shooting at officers1/3 of the suspects have a history of mental crisisThis is the first time APD has released police shooting trends. Per the department, they need to prepare for the day the Department of Justice leaves and need to find a way how to navigate through trends and situations.APD plans to hold these police shooting reviews every six months.Some of the new training for these changes will start in April.Santa Fe police battling rising vehicle theftSanta Fe police say they've been conducting an operation to limit vehicle theft in the city.Police have dubbed the operation "Caught in 60 Seconds." They launched it around mid-February after seeing a rise in vehicle thefts, and numbers are already falling.Seventy-eight stolen vehicle reports in January. But just 48 in February. SFPD found some vehicles found to have been left running with no one around.Sgt. Luke Wakefield with the Santa Fe Police Department said, “It's progressively getting worse. Obviously, within the colder months, it's easier so it's a crime of opportunity.”Since the operation started, police have made four arrests and found three stolen vehicles. The department says it’s been able to reduce the number of vehicle thefts by 40 percent by conducting patrols in residential areas across Santa Fe.Albuquerque police squad car catches fire after crashAlbuquerque police are investigating after one of their own units caught fire after a crash. Police say the police car was involved in a two-vehicle crash on Thursday near Lomas Blvd and Louisiana Blvd. The car caught fire during the crash and was quickly extinguished. One person who was involved in the crash was transported to the hospital.

Rain and snow showers possible in Albuquerque and other parts of New Mexico, a review of police shootings in the city and Santa Fe is working to battle vehicle theft.

Here's what you need to know before you head out the door.

Weather

Rain and snow showers are possible in Albuquerque on Friday.

Temperatures will stay cool and below normal through most of the weekend.

Albuquerque Police implementing changes after police shootings in 2022

Last year, 2022, was a record year for the Albuquerque Police Department when it comes to police shootings.

Within the year, Albuquerque officers were involved in 18 shootings, the first happening on Feb. 1 and the last on Nov. 25.

For two months, the department reviewed each shooting looking for trends and places for improvement.

Some of the trends include:

2/3 of officers involved in the shootings have six or less years of experience
8 of the shootings involve someone shooting at officers
1/3 of the suspects have a history of mental crisis

This is the first time APD has released police shooting trends. Per the department, they need to prepare for the day the Department of Justice leaves and need to find a way how to navigate through trends and situations.

APD plans to hold these police shooting reviews every six months.

Some of the new training for these changes will start in April.

Santa Fe police battling rising vehicle theft

Santa Fe police say they've been conducting an operation to limit vehicle theft in the city.

Police have dubbed the operation "Caught in 60 Seconds." They launched it around mid-February after seeing a rise in vehicle thefts, and numbers are already falling.

Seventy-eight stolen vehicle reports in January. But just 48 in February. SFPD found some vehicles found to have been left running with no one around.

Sgt. Luke Wakefield with the Santa Fe Police Department said, “It's progressively getting worse. Obviously, within the colder months, it's easier so it's a crime of opportunity.”

Since the operation started, police have made four arrests and found three stolen vehicles. The department says it’s been able to reduce the number of vehicle thefts by 40 percent by conducting patrols in residential areas across Santa Fe.

Albuquerque police squad car catches fire after crash

Albuquerque police are investigating after one of their own units caught fire after a crash.

Police say the police car was involved in a two-vehicle crash on Thursday near Lomas Blvd and Louisiana Blvd. The car caught fire during the crash and was quickly extinguished.

One person who was involved in the crash was transported to the hospital.

Friday's top stories: Rainy Friday, APD policy changes, Santa Fe vehicle theft

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Albuquerque Police implementing changes after police shootings in 2022

Santa Fe police battling rising vehicle theft

Albuquerque police squad car catches fire after crash

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