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Standard Operating Procedures

View the Albuquerque Police Department's Standard Operating Procedures (SOP).

The following briefly describes each step of the policy development process:

Step 1 Policy Review, Analysis, and Revision; and Data Review: The policy owner, alongside Policy and Procedure (P&P) Unit personnel, edit and revise the policy draft by incorporating policy recommendations from internal stakeholders (e.g., Department personnel) and external stakeholders (e.g., community members and organizations). They align the policy draft with best practices and current laws, including federal, state, and local laws and case laws. They also ensure that the policy draft reflects what currently is practiced within the Department.

Step 2 Policy and Procedure Unit Meeting: The policy owner will present the policy draft at a regularly held, community-based Department P&P meeting.

Step 3 Fifteen (15) Day Commentary Period: P&P personnel have made the draft available to all Department personnel through its document management system for a 15-day commentary period for staff to review the policy and give their feedback.

Step 4 Post-Fifteen (15) Day Commentary Period Revisions: The policy owner incorporates any meaningful feedback that they received during Step 3.

Step 5 Policy and Procedures Review Board (PPRB) Meeting: The policy owner will present the policy draft to the Department’s Policy and Procedures Review Board (PPRB) for the members to vote to approve the draft. If the PPRB does not approve the draft, they will table it, in order for the policy owner to make revisions and to re-present the draft at a future PPRB meeting.

Step 6 Civilian Police Oversight Agency Board (CPOAB) Thirty (30) Day Commentary Period: Once approved by the PPRB, P&P personnel submit both Court-Approved Settlement Agreement (CASA) and non-CASA policy drafts to the Civilian Police Oversight Agency Board (CPOAB) for a 30-day period to allow the members to provide their recommendations on the draft.

Step 7 Review by the DOJ and Independent Monitor: P&P personnel work with the City’s Legal Department to submit all CASA-related policies to the Independent Monitor, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ), and the Albuquerque Police Officers’ Association (APOA) for a 15-day review period. Recommendations from DOJ and the Independent Monitor agreed to by the Department are incorporated into the policy draft.

Step 8 Chief of Police Review and Approval: Once a policy has been through each step in the process, P&P personnel provide the draft to the Chief of Police to be reviewed and approved.

Published and Implemented: After the Chief of Police approves the draft, P&P personnel publish the SOP and implement it Department-wide through its document management system, as well as publish the SOP on the Department’s public-facing website.

Archived: The SOP has been archived for one of several reasons, including, but not limited to, the unit, program, or procedure(s) the SOP governed no longer exists or the SOP was incorporated into an existing SOP

Please refer to the policy development process flowchart for an illustration of the process.

About SOP Numbering

To ensure efficiency and accountability, the Department has restructured some of its Divisions to align them with the Department's mission and vision, namely to follow through on its commitment to community policing. In this process, several SOPs have been renumbered, which is reflected in the list below. The list includes, if applicable, the policy’s old number in parentheses, and the current policy number, which should assist in locating the SOP.

General Orders

Procedural Orders

Administrative Orders

General Orders

SOP# Title Date Published/Archived Current Status
1-1 Personnel Code of Conduct (Formerly 1-04 and 1-4) Feb. 14, 2023 Published
1-2 Social Media (Formerly 1-44 Social Media Policy) Sept. 10, 2021 Step 5
1-3 Grooming Standards (Formerly 1-16) Nov. 12, 2021 Step 4
1-4 Bias-Based Policing and/or Profiling (Formerly 1-03) April 18, 2022 Step 1
1-5 Harassment/Sexual Harassment in the Workplace (Formerly 1-12) Dec. 13, 2021 Step 6
1-6 Patrol Ride-Along Program (Formerly 4-15) June 28, 2022 Published
1-9 Compliance and Oversight Division (Formerly 8-2) Feb. 1, 2023 Published
1-10 Peer Support Program Dec. 22, 2022 Published
1-12 Volunteer and Internship Programs (Formerly 1-45) Sept. 8, 2021 Step 6
1-13 Armed Robbery Unit (Formerly 5-3) June 27, 2022 Step 0
1-14 Rapid Accountability Diversion (RAD) Program Feb. 1, 2023 Archived
1-15 Air Support Unit (Formerly 5-2) Jan. 31, 2023 Published
1-16 Auto Theft Unit (Formerly 3-08 and 5-11) March 3, 2022 Step 1
1-17 Aviation Division (Formerly 4-9) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
1-19 Shield Unit Jan. 24, 2023 Published
1-20 Behavioral Sciences Section (Formerly 1-11 and 1-14) May 6, 2022 Step 1
1-21 Bicycle Patrol (Formerly 3-7 and 4-14) May 12, 2023 Published
1-22 Automated License Plate Reader Program (Formerly 2-89) Sept. 8, 2021 Step 6
1-25 Chaplain Unit March 3, 2022 Step 1
1-26 Special Victims Section (Formerly 5-4) April 12, 2022 Step 1
1-27 Cold Case Unit (Formerly 5-3) Jan. 17, 2023 Published
1-28 Downtown Unit (DTU) (Formerly 4-3) May 9, 2022 Step 1
1-30 Community Ambassador Program Jan. 17, 2023 Published
1-31 Court Services Unit (Formerly 2-06 and 8-14) March 6, 2023 Published
1-34 Crime Prevention Unit (CPU) (Formerly 4-5) April 11, 2022 Step 1
1-35 Crime Scene Specialist Unit (Formerly 3-05 and 5-8) April 26, 2023 Published
1-36 Department Personnel Wellness Program Aug. 30, 2021 Step 6
1-37 Crisis Intervention Division and Program (Formerly 2-13 and 2-19) May 2, 2022 Step 3
1-39 DWI Section (Formerly 4-07 and 6-4) March 3, 2022 Step 6
1-41 Evidence Unit (Formerly 3-04 and 5-6) Oct. 21, 2022 Published
1-42 Bomb Squad (Formerly Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit) (Formerly 6-7) Feb. 16, 2022 Step 6
1-44 False Alarm Reduction Unit (Formerly 8-12) Aug. 13, 2021 Archived
1-45 Family Abuse & Stalking Training Team (FASTT) (Formerly 5-3) Jan. 21, 2022 Archived
1-46 Field Training and Evaluation Program (FTEP) (Formerly 6-1-5) May 31, 2022 Step 1
1-48 Fiscal Division (Formerly 8-3) Aug. 3, 2022 Published
1-50 Gun Violence Reduction Unit Dec. 22, 2022 Published
1-52 Homeland Security Unit (Formerly 4-11) Sept. 1, 2022 Published
1-53 Homicide Unit (Formerly 5-3) Dec. 28, 2022 Published
1-54 Honor Guard Team (Formerly 4-2) Jan. 19, 2023 Published
1-56 Horse Mounted Unit (Formerly 6-12) Nov. 29, 2022 Published
1-57 Identification/Disposition Unit (Formerly 3-03 and 5-7) March 22, 2023 Published
1-58 Crime Gun Intelligence Center (CGIC) Jan. 31, 2023 Published 
1-59 Impact Teams (Formerly 4-1 and 4-4) Nov. 21, 2022 Published
1-60 Interagency Task Force Operations (Formerly 5-3) May 3, 2022 Step 2
1-61 Internal Affairs Force Division (IAFD) (Formerly 7-2 and 7-3) Aug. 24, 2022 Published
1-62 Internal Affairs Professional Standards Division (IAPS) (Formerly 2-05 and 7-1) March 15, 2022 Step 5
1-64 K-9 Unit (Formerly 4-12 and 6-9) Nov. 8, 2019 Step 2
1-65 Metro Court Protection Unit (Formerly 6-6) Oct. 17, 2022 Published
1-66 Missing Persons Unit (Formerly 5-3) June 28, 2022 Step 0
1-67 Multi-Agency Task Force (MATF) Feb. 18, 2022 Step 2
1-70 Open Space Section (Formerly 6-11) May 3, 2022 Step 1
1-71 Operations Review Section (Formerly 4-1) June 10, 2022 Step 1
1-72 Organized Crime Unit (OCU) Jan. 10, 2023 Published
1-75 Grant Administration Division (GAD) April 24, 2023 Published
1-78 Police Service Aide (PSA) Program (Formerly 4-6) July 29, 2022 Published
1-80 Prisoner Transport Unit (PTU) (Formerly 6-5) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
1-81 Proactive Response Team (PRT) March 22, 2023 Published
1-82 Property Crime Reporting Tech (PSAII) (Currently 4-8) Dec. 13, 2021 Archived
1-83 Real Time Crime Center (RTCC) (Formerly 5-9 & 5-10) April 24, 2023 Published
1-84 Records Division (Formerly 8-4) April 24, 2023 Archived
1-85 Recruiting Unit (Currently 6-2) Feb. 25, 2022 Step 2
1-86 Report Review Sept. 23, 2021 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 2-111 Records Division Units
1-87 Scientific Evidence Division (Formerly 5-5) July 20, 2022 Published
1-88 Sex Crimes Unit (Formerly 5-3) April 12, 2022 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 1-26 Special Victims Section
1-90 Investigative Services Division (ISD) (Formerly 5-1) June 14, 2022 Step 1
1-91 Tactical Emergency Medical Support (TEMS) (Formerly 1-92) Dec. 22, 2022 Published
1-92 Special Weapons and Tactics (SWAT) (Formerly 6-8) Aug. 18, 2022 Published
1-93 Telephone Reporting Unit (TRU) (Formerly 2-02-8 and 8-11) Feb. 10, 2022 Step 6
1-94 Training Division (Formerly 6-1) Feb. 24, 2023 Published
1-95 Metro Traffic Division (Formerly 4-06 and 6-3) Nov. 19, 2021 Step 6
1-96 Crisis Negotiation Team (CNT) (Formerly 1-92) Aug. 3, 2022 Published
1-97 Data Analysis Division  Feb. 1, 2023 Published

 

Procedural Orders

SOP# Title Published Date Current Status
2-1 Uniforms (Formerly 2-06) March 8, 2023 Published
2-2 Department Property (Formerly 3-75) March 11, 2022 Step 0
2-3 Firearms and Ammunition Authorization (Formerly 2-22) May 6, 2022 Step 1
2-4 Use of Respirators Feb. 22, 2023 Published
2-5 Department Vehicles (Formerly 1-19) April 20, 2023 Published
2-6 Use of Emergency Warning Equipment (Formerly 2-56) March 29, 2022 Step 3
2-7 Damage to Civilian Property (Formerly 2-02) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
2-8 Use of On-Body Recording Devices (Formerly 1-39) May 2, 2022 Step 2
2-9 Use of Computer Systems (Formerly 1-37) April 6, 2023 Published
2-10 Use of Emergency Communications (Formerly 1-07 and 1-7) March 31, 2023 Published
2-11 Use of Tire Deflation Devices March 29, 2022 Step 3
2-12 Pursuit Intervention Technique (PIT) Dec. 22, 2022 Published
2-13 StarChase Pursuit Management System Feb. 6, 2023 Published
2-14 Use of Cell-Site Simulator Technology Dec. 28, 2022 Published
2-15 Small Unmanned Aircraft Systems (SUAS) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
2-16 Reports (Formerly 1-05) Jan. 12, 2022 Step 6
2-17 Offense/Incident Report Form (Formerly 2-10) July 29, 2022 Archived
2-18 Contact with Individuals, with Hearing, Speech, and or Vision Impairments (Formerly 2-09) Jan. 24, 2023 Published
2-19 Response to Behavioral Health Issues May 3, 2022 Step 1
2-20 Hostage, Suicidal/Barricaded Individual(s), and Tactical Threat Assessment (Formerly 2-42) April 13, 2022 Step 1
2-21 Apparent Natural Death and Suicide (Formerly 3-22) March 6, 2023 Published
2-22 Juvenile Delinquency (Formerly 2-34) Feb. 28, 2022 Step 3
2-23 Use of Canine Unit (Formerly 2-45) Jan. 10, 2019 Step 2
2-24 Hazardous Material Incident Response (Formerly 2-46) May 11, 2023 Published
2-25 Bomb Threats and Bomb Emergencies (Formerly 1-28) Feb. 6, 2023 Published
2-27 Rescue Task Force June 15, 2021 Archived
2-28 Flood Control Channel Action Plan (Formerly 3-20) May 19, 2023 Published 
2-29 Child Exploitation Detail (CED) (Currently 5-4) Jan. 10, 2022 Step 3
2-30 Emergency Command Post (ECP) (Formerly 1-30) May 1, 2023 Published
2-31 Emergency Medical and Trauma Services (Formerly 1-08) Nov. 18, 2022 Published
2-32 Exposure to Blood or Body Fluids (Formerly 1-40) Aug. 17, 2022 Published
2-33 Rights and Safety of Onlookers (Formerly 1-31) Dec. 28, 2022 Published
2-34 Notification of Significant Events (Formerly 1-42) Aug. 15, 2022 Published
2-35 Emergency Response Team (ERT) (Formerly 2-29) June 20, 2022 Step 1
2-36 Police Press Relations and Release of Police Identification (Formerly 1-13) April 20, 2023 Published
2-37 Meal Breaks (Formerly 2-4 and 4-16) Jan. 27, 2023 Published
2-38 Daily Staffing and Briefings (Formerly 2-3 and 4-13) April 13, 2022 Step 1
2-39 Field Services Bureau Response to Demonstrations, Incidents, and Events Briefings (Formerly 4-21) April 18, 2022 Step 4
2-40 Misdemeanor, Traffic, and Parking Enforcement (Formerly 2-18) Aug. 10, 2022 Published
2-41 Traffic Stops (Formerly 2-47) March 11, 2022 Step 0
2-42 DWI Investigations and Revoked/Suspended License (Formerly 3-11) May 25, 2022 Step 1
2-43 Roadblocks and Checkpoints June 20, 2022 Step 0
2-44 Traffic and Roadway Services (Formerly 2-49) May 2, 2022 Step 1
2-45 Pursuit by Motor Vehicle (Formerly 2-55) Jan. 7, 2022 Step 6
2-46 Response to Traffic Crashes Aug. 3, 2022 Published
2-47 Crashes Involving Department-Issued Vehicles (Formerly 1-18) Dec. 22, 2022 Published
2-48 Towing Services May 10, 2022 Published
2-49 Vehicle Identification Number (VIN) Inspections (Formerly 2-05) May 10, 2022 Step 3
2-50 Crash Review Board (Formerly Safety Review Board)(Formerly 3-66) Feb. 21, 2023 Published
2-51 Safe Driver Award Program (Formerly 3-63) Aug. 3, 2022 Published
2-52 Use of Force: General Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-53 Use of Force: Definitions Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-54 Use of Force: Intermediate Weapon Systems Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-55 Use of Force: De-escalation Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-56 Use of Force: Reporting by Department Personnel Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-57 Use of Force: Review and Investigation by Department Personnel Jan. 26, 2023 Published
2-58 Force Review Board (Formerly 2-56 and 3-67) May 3, 2022 Published
2-59 Extreme Risk Firearm Protection Order Sept. 06, 2022 Published
2-60 Preliminary and Follow-Up Criminal Investigations (Formerly 2-24) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
2-61 Gathering of Criminal Activity Information (Formerly 1-21) Sept. 30, 2019 Archived; Incorporated Into SOP 5-1 Special Investigations Division
2-62 Criminal Background Investigations (Formerly 1-06) Aug. 12, 2022 Published
2-63 Crime Stoppers Investigations (Formerly 1-24) Jan. 27, 2023 Published
2-64 Violence Intervention Program (VIP) Custom Notification Deliveries Aug. 17, 2022 Published
2-65 Language Access Procedure Dec. 08, 2022 Published
2-66 Victim and Witness Assistance (Formerly 2-25) Jan. 6, 2023 Published
2-67 Lineups and Field Identifications (Formerly 2-29) March 25, 2023 Published
2-68 Interviews and Interrogations (Formerly 2-23) Nov. 18, 2020 Step 5
2-69 Informants (Formerly 2-04) Jan. 6, 2023 Published
2-70 Execution of Search Warrants (Formerly 2-16) Oct. 6, 2021 Step 6
2-71 Search and Seizure Without a Warrant (Formerly 2-17) April 11, 2022 Step 0
2-72 Procedures for Serious Crimes Call-Outs (Formerly 2-28 and 2-91) May 1, 2023 Published
2-73 Collection, Submission, and Disposition of Evidence and Property (Formerly 2-08) June 20, 2022 Step 0
2-74

Submission of Felony Cases to the District Attorney (Formerly 2-39)

Nov. 23, 2022 Published
2-75 Request for Legal Opinions for the City Attorney July 13, 2021 Archived
2-76 Court (Formerly 2-01) June 3, 2022 Step 1
2-78 Domestic Violence (Formerly 4-25) May 23, 2022 Step 1
2-79 Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) Program Nov. 16, 2021 Step 3
2-80 Arrests, Arrest Warrants, and Booking Procedures (Formerly 2-14) Nov. 01, 2022 Published
2-81 Off-Duty Conduct: Power of Arrest (Formerly 2-15) May 24, 2023 Published
2-82 Restraints and Transportation of Individuals (Formerly 2-19) April 11, 2022 Step 1
2-83 Hospital Procedures and Rules (Formerly 2-11) Jan. 19, 2023 Published
2-84 Body Cavity Searches (Formerly 2-20) May 11, 2023 Published
2-85 Certificate for Evaluation Feb. 22, 2023 Published
2-86 Investigation of Property Crimes (Formerly 2-26) Nov. 22, 2019 Step 6
2-87 Graffiti Cases Dec. 13, 2021 Archived
2-88 Bait Car Program (Formerly 2-58) May 16, 2022 Step 2
2-90 Background Investigations (Formerly 6-2) Feb. 28, 2022 Step 6
2-92 Crimes Against Children Investigations (Formerly 2-33) Nov. 2, 2021 Step 2
2-93 Child Abduction/Missing Child Investigations (Formerly 2-35) Jan. 21, 2022 Step 0
2-95 Undercover High-Risk Vehicle Containment Procedures Dec. 29, 2022 Published
2-96 Clandestine Drug Laboratory and Indoor Marijuana Grow Investigations (Formerly 2-36) June 3, 2022 Step 0
2-97 Harm Reduction Act Methadone Distribution Centers Sept. 13, 2021 Archived
2-98 Gunshot Detection Procedure May 31, 2023 Published
2-99 Naloxone Policy (Formerly 1-8) May 25, 2023 Published
2-100 Emergency Communications Center (ECC) Division (Formerly 9-1) June 10, 2022 Step 0
2-102 Shoplifting (Currently 4-22) Dec. 29, 2022 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 2-60 Preliminary and Follow-up Criminal Investigations
2-103 Trespass Notification (Formerly 4-23) Nov. 22, 2022 Published
2-104 Civil Disputes (Formerly 3-14 and 4-24) March 11, 2022 Step 0
2-105 Destruction/Capture of Animals (Formerly 3-5 and 4-26) March 26, 2022 Step 1
2-106 Lost and Found Government-Issued Identification Cards and Driver’s Licenses (Formerly 3-21 and 4-27) March 12, 2022 Step 0
2-107 Use of Crime Scene Specialist Feb. 1, 2023 Published
2-108 Electronic Communications Privacy Act Procedures Aug. 24, 2022 Published
2-110 Facial Recognition  April 20, 2023 Published 
2-111 Records Division Units (Formerly 1-84 and 1-86) May 19, 2023 Published
2-112 Violence Intervention Program Call-In (Gun Violence Demonstration Enforcement Action) Dec. 29, 2022 Published
2-113 Custom Notification Gun Buy-Back (CNGBB) Program March 23, 2023 Published

 

Administrative Orders

SOP# Title Published Date Current Status
3-1 Dispatch and Radio Procedures June 10, 2022 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 2-100 Emergency Communications Center (ECC)
3-6 Language Access Policy Dec. 12, 2022 Published
3-7 Remote Work Feb. 24, 2023 Published
3-10 Chief’s Authority and Responsibilities Aug. 5, 2019 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 3-11 Command Staff Responsibilities
3-11 Command Staff Responsibilities (Formerly 3-02 and 3-2) May 2, 2022 Step 1
3-12 Awards and Recognition Oct. 11, 2022 Published
3-13 Officer’s Duties and Conduct June 17, 2021 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 1-1 Personnel Code of Conduct
3-14 Supervision (Formerly 3-9 and 3-18) Feb. 28, 2022 Step 1
3-15 Sworn Personnel Positions and Seniority (Formerly 3-11) Feb. 14, 2023 Published
3-16 Seniority Sept. 13, 2021 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 3-15 Sworn Personnel Positions and Seniority
3-17 Duty Assignments and Transfers (Formerly 3-55) July 15, 2022 Step 1
3-20 Overtime, Compensatory Time, and Work Shift Designation (Formerly 1-11) Jan. 18, 2022 Step 1
3-21 Scheduled and Unscheduled Leave (Formerly 3-15 and 3-72) July 29, 2022 Published
3-23 Retirement Observance (Formerly 3-61) April 24, 2023 Published
3-24 In-the-line-of-duty Death Notification and Benefits (Formerly 3-30) June 3, 2022 Step 0
3-25 Bid Process (Formerly 2-10 and 4-11) Nov. 06, 2022 Published
3-29 Issuance and Usage of Area Command Equipment (Formerly 2-7 and 4-12) May 19, 2023 Published
3-30 Line Inspection Process (Formerly 3-42) June 16, 2022 Step 1
3-31 Physical Fitness Assessment (Formerly 3-83) May 25, 2023 Published
3-32 Performance Evaluations (Formerly 3-26) March 3, 2022 Step 1
3-33 Performance Evaluation and Management System (PEMS)(Formerly 3-20 and 3-49) Oct. 17, 2022 Published
3-34 Training Committee Sept. 29, 2022 Published
3-40 Civil Litigation Process Feb. 1, 2023 Published
3-41 Complaints Involving Department Personnel (Formerly 3-22 and 3-43) May 12, 2023 Published
3-42 Criminal Investigation of Department Personnel (Formerly 2-30) May 25, 2023 Published
3-43 Relief of Duty (Formerly 3-23 and 3-44) April 5, 2022 Step 0
3-44 Review of Completed Administrative Investigation Cases (Formerly 3-24 and 3-45) Dec. 21, 2022 Published
3-45 Due Process Notification to Personnel April 5, 2022 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 3-43 Relief of Duty
3-46 Discipline System (Formerly 1-09) April 27, 2023 Published
3-47 Acceptance of Disciplinary Action and Right to Appeal Jan. 12, 2022 Step 2
3-50 Forms Control (Formerly 3-22 and 3-27) Aug. 24, 2022 Published
3-51 Department Orders (Formerly 3-20) April 06, 2022 Step 0
3-52 Policy Development Process (Formerly 3-29 and 3-65) April 07, 2022 Step 1
3-53 Self-Assessments Dec. 29, 2022 Published
3-76 Purchasing Guide Aug. 3, 2022 Archived; Incorporated into SOP 1-48 Fiscal Divison

These policies will be reviewed annually based on the published date.

Policy Development Process Flowchart

Policy Development Process Flowchart

Disclaimer

The Albuquerque Police Department's website was developed to provide general information. Data contained at this location is generally not reviewed for legal sufficiency. Albuquerque Police Department documents displayed are for reference purposes only. Their completeness or currency is not guaranteed. Links or references to other information or organizations are for reference only and do not constitute an endorsement.