Deb Haaland Proposes First-in-the-Nation State Office of Community Safety, Independent Commission to Replace CYFD
Smart on Crime: Deb Haaland Releases Public Safety Agenda
ALBUQUERQUE, NM – Today, Deb Haaland, who is running to be the next governor of New Mexico, proposed a first-in-the-nation State Office of Community Safety, which would coordinate and deploy behavioral health and medical professionals to address the root causes of our public safety challenges and free up officers to tackle violent crime. The proposal came during her press conference releasing her full public safety agenda, which included a path to overhaul CYFD and replace it with an independent commission.
Haaland’s plan works to keep violent criminals and illegal drugs off our streets and ensures law enforcement has the tools they need to stop crime, while addressing the root causes of crime through investments in mental health, substance abuse and rehabilitation programs. Haaland is also concerned over Trump’s attacks on the civil rights and safety of New Mexicans – she will work with the legislature and localities to limit coordination with ICE and prohibit ICE from operating within certain public and community spaces.
“We cannot arrest our way out of these issues and we are doomed to repeat the same mistakes unless we do things differently. That’s why I will create the first-in-the-nation State Office of Community Safety, while also giving law enforcement the tools to keep violent criminals off our streets,” said Haaland. “Lasting public safety comes from investing in people and communities so they’re strong from the beginning. That’s exactly what this plan does.”
Haaland understands that New Mexicans don’t feel safe and are tired of illegal drugs running rampant – and that needs to change. Her plan was made in collaboration with law enforcement, behavioral health, first-responders, emergency management and public safety professionals across the state.
At her policy event, Haaland announced bold initiatives that will hire and train more law enforcement officers, and make smart moves toward community policing models. She will also invest in young people and their families by supporting after-school and mentorship programs and doubling down on mental health programs so people can get the care they need when they are in a crisis.
Haaland’s public safety agenda includes smart approaches that:
- Make smart moves toward community policing models that supplement traditional police work. Create an Office of Community Safety staffed with social workers and counselors.
- Recruit and retain public safety professionals by expanding pathways and outreach programs for hiring into local departments and increasing officer pay parity.
- Create accountability systems that emphasize fairness, trust, and opportunity.
- Provide law enforcement with the tools and technology to arrest violent offenders, track and detain drug traffickers, and get guns out of the hands of those who should not have them.
- Stand up for victims of sexual assault, domestic violence, and children by building on New Mexico’s Missing and Murdered Indigenous Peoples program, enforce Extreme Risk Protection Orders, and improve procedures of crimes relating to sexual assault.
- Overhaul CYFD by hiring the right professionals for the job, providing support for the employees and providing consistent, quality care for kids.
- Invest in young people through a Youth Opportunity and Safety Initiative, expanding after-school mentorship programs, and working with local community groups to create support systems.
- Expand violence intervention and prevention programs in local communities and schools.
- Expand access to substance use and addiction with treatment and recovery rather than just incarceration and rebuild behavioral health programs that were dismantled under Republican administrations.
- Protects New Mexicans against the violations of their rights by the Trump administration
- Stop ICE from terrorizing our communities and violating our rights.
Haaland’s public safety plan is supported by law enforcement, behavioral health professionals, and community leaders — a testament to her thoughtful leadership that seeks to prevent crime and build safer communities.
At the press conference, former New Mexico State Police Chief Pete Kassetas endorsed the plan stating, “as the former New Mexico State Police Chief, I understand the importance of having a well trained and resourced department. Deb’s public safety plan strengthens recruitment and retention of law enforcement officers while widening pathways to bring more public safety officers to local departments. It also supports our officers with tools and resources that will make police officers more effective combined with moving the calls we’re not trained to address to professionals who can help.”
Also standing with Haaland was former State Senator Gerry Ortiz y Pino, who said, “Children deserve care and opportunity, but CYFD has not met their responsibility to support children in need and keep them safe and healthy. Deb’s plan has the power to reform the culture within CYFD and work toward a commission that provides consistent, quality care for kids.”
Dr. David Ley, Executive Director of New Mexico Solutions, the newest Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic in Albuquerque, thanks Haaland for her support of improving the behavioral health system. “As someone who worked in behavioral health, I have seen firsthand the consequences of a dismantled behavioral health system and the impacts of gaps in services, workforce shortages, and limited access to treatment. I am supporting Deb’s plan for public safety because she recognizes that behavioral health is not separate from public safety. When people have access to quality mental health care, substance use treatment, and supportive services, our communities are healthier and safer.”
James Jimenez, the Executive Director of New Mexico Voices for Children Action Fund, an organization that voted to endorse Haaland this week, also offered his support of the plan. “Public safety isn’t solved by enforcement alone, it’s solved by addressing root causes. Deb’s plan will work to steer young people away from violent crime by expanding real pathways to success and enforcing consequences for serious offenses. By investing in school attendance support, substance-use services, job pathways, and behavioral health access, her plan provides support to young people. Early intervention is a commitment to safer communities and stronger futures for every family in New Mexico.”
Haaland oversaw thousands of law enforcement across the country as the Secretary of the Interior, including the National Park Service Police and the Bureau of Land Management Office of Law Enforcement. She has managed more police officers than any candidate in the race. She also worked with the Indian Health Service to support mental health services in high schools that serve Native children to prevent young people from going down a path to addiction. In Congress, Haaland delivered $9.4 million to communities in New Mexico to address the opioid crisis and provide addiction services.
On the campaign trail, Haaland has visited all 33 counties to hear from New Mexicans directly and share her vision for the state. At a fentanyl awareness event in Española, she stood alongside families impacted by fentanyl addiction and vowed to address the crisis. She committed to investing in addiction recovery services, family support programs, and tools for law enforcement to get illegal drugs off New Mexico streets.