Albuquerque creates new safety department to change how police are dispatched

On a recent webinar organised by Ignite Cities and the National League of Cities, mayors from Philadelphia, Albuquerque and Waterloo discussed how they are approaching the complexities of managing public safety and a surge in gun violence while responding to calls to reform policing following the murder of George Floyd.

Albuquerque in New Mexico is setting up a third department of first responders with a new Community Safety team that will work alongside the police and fire crews.

The cabinet-level department which has recurring funding allocated will launch this autumn. It will be staffed by 100 trained professionals such as emergency medical technicians, social workers, housing and h...