UNMPD to begin using body-worn cameras

The University of New Mexico Police Department will obtain and begin using body-worn cameras within the next six months.

The decision follows reporting in November 2023 and March 2024 by the Daily Lobo that discussed a loophole in a statute that requires most New Mexico police departments to use the devices.

The Daily Lobo’s investigation — along with reporting from KOB in April — prompted new discussions about UNMPD getting body cameras, UNM Chief Marketing and Communications Officer Cinnamon Blair said.

“There had kind of been a renewed interest over the end of last year, beginning of this year, which had brought that conversation back to the table,” Blair said.

Conversations about UNMPD not using the devices also resurged following the response to pro-Palestine protests on campus last spring, during which 23 people were arrested. At least one campus security camera wasn't functioning properly during the protests, Blair said.

After the body camera statute initially took effect in 2020, UNM’s legal counsel determined that its police department was exempt, according to Blair.

In a statement to the Daily Lobo, New Mexico American Civil Liberties Union Executive Director, Peter Simonson, wrote that he hopes the state legislature will update the statute to explicitly include university police departments.

“Campus communities should not have to depend on voluntary measures to ensure their safety and rights are protected,” Simonson wrote.

Instead of body cameras, the University focused on the 3,000 security cameras across campus, Blair said. These cameras do not have sound, but UNMPD officers are also required to have audio recorders that they activate upon public interaction, per the Standard Operating Procedures manual.

“We’ve had these large-scale events — like the protests on campus — where we’ve had very helpful footage, but it’s not complete,” Blair said.

UNMPD signed a five-year contract with the company Axon, which will provide the body cameras, according to Blair.

Implementation will cost the University $344,000 for the first year, which includes the hiring of a new lieutenant, Blair said. The lieutenant will make a salary of $44.61 per hour and preferably have experience in developing policy and administering body cameras, according to the UNM Jobs posting.

The money will come from UNM’s general operating funds, Blair said, but the University will request state funding in the future.

UNMPD does not have dashcams in its vehicles, Blair said, but may look into obtaining them.

UNMPD Public Information Officer Larry Bitsoih — who Blair said was the sole UNMPD point of contact for information on the body-camera implementation — was unavailable to provide comment to the Daily Lobo in the two weeks leading up to publication.

“The body-worn cameras could ensure, beyond a doubt, that we’re protecting both the interests of our community and the officers,” Blair said.

Lily Alexander is the editor-in-chief of the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at editorinchief@dailylobo.com or on X @llilyalexander

Lauren Lifke is the news editor for the Daily Lobo. She can be reached at news@dailylobo.com or on X @lauren_lifke

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