It’s Official: Judge Dismisses CASA, Ending DOJ Oversight in ABQ
Today, Albuquerque enters a new era of public safety, accountability and community trust. U.S. District Judge James O. Browning has officially dismissed the Court Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA), ending more than a decade of federal oversight of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).
This historic ruling comes after the City of Albuquerque and the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) jointly filed a motion to conclude the CASA last week, following APD’s achievement of full and effective compliance with all terms of the agreement.
“This ruling finalizes what the department and our community have worked tirelessly for over the last decade: we have earned back the right to run our own police department,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “I made it clear from day one, we would meet our challenges head-on, making hard changes, building new systems, and proving APD can uphold the highest standards on its own. This moment shows that reform and strong policing can go hand in hand, and that trust, accountability, and safety are not competing values — they’re connected. It’s also the beginning of the next generation of our police department, one that is transparent, admits mistakes, holds itself accountable and is fully capable of learning and continuing reforms as needed.”
The CASA was enacted in 2014 following a DOJ investigation that revealed patterns of excessive force. Over the past 11 years, APD underwent a rigorous transformation, embracing new policies, increasing transparency, and embedding accountability into its daily operations.
“It wasn’t an easy road, but we continued to push forward and slowly this team and all of our officers became accustomed to what was necessary to get into compliance,” Chief Harold Medina said. “This is a victory for the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department who have changed their culture. They are the ones that have put the most blood, sweat and tears into this, faced the most scrutiny. They have done a wonderful job at changing the culture of the Albuquerque Police Department.”
As federal oversight concludes, the City of Albuquerque and APD reaffirm their pledge to continue building a modern, community-focused police department grounded in constitutional policing and public trust.