Jeff Bingaman United States Senator from New Mexico

WASHINGTON – U.S. Senators Jeff Bingaman and Tom Udall today announced that the Albuquerque Police Department will receive $826,422 from the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act to help fight drug-related crime.

Through a Bingaman initiative – supported by Udall -- the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act contained $30 million in grant funding nationwide aimed at fighting drug-related criminal activity.  The funding awarded to Albuquerque came from that border grant program.  It will be used to fill five vacancies within the police department to address narcotics issues and to make technology upgrades.

"Drug-related crime isn't confined only to New Mexico communities that border Mexico, it's happening across the state," Bingaman said.  "This funding will bolster the Albuquerque Police Department's efforts to fight drug trafficking."

"Drug-related crimes are an ongoing challenge for law enforcement across the state, and Albuquerque is no exception," said Udall, a member of the Senate Caucus on International Narcotics Control. "This funding will give the Albuquerque Police Department additional manpower and tools to ramp up the fight against drug crimes and keep Albuquerque residents safe."