Police union gives payments to officers involved in shootings

The mayor of Albuquerque, where police have shot 23 people in the last two years, urges that the practice end.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - Albuquerque police officers involved in a rash of fatal shootings over the past two years were paid up to $500 under a union program that some have likened to a bounty system in a department with a culture that critics have long contended promotes brutality.

Mayor Richard Berry called Friday for an immediate halt to the practice, which was first reported in the Albuquerque Journal during a week in which Albuquerque police shot and killed two men. Since 2010, Albuquerque police have shot 23 people, 18 fatally.

"The administration has nothing to do with how the union conducts their business," Berry said in a statement, "but I was shocked yesterday when made aware of this practice. I cannot stand aside and condone this practice. It needs to end now."

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Note the quote from the mayor in the excerpt that I emphasized in bold...

Perhaps the administration should have just a little more to do with "how the union conducts their business", ya think? Better late than never I suppose, at least they didn't sweep it under the rug, so I guess that deserves an ounce of credit.

But, it took up to 23 fatal officer involved shootings within only a 2 year period to see that there was an issue and reach the conclusion that it should end?

This world, more, our civilization, is entirely overdue for an audit imho.

Bonus incentive program. I highly doubt this is unique to albuquerque.

reply to post by emberscott


I was just pondering that same thought. I wonder just how many other municipalities have this type and perhaps other incentives that would "shock" administrations, not to mention the public that is being protected by them.

Don't get me wrong, I am not a proponent of "cop bashing" and have myself been a part of said service in so many words, but, I will say that corruption is rampant in law enforcement as it is in most any profession in some way shape or form.

However, when those in the profession have specific authorities, wield weaponry, and are provided the motivation of a monetary incentive to kill a perpetrator (and act upon it) then I feel it deserves an opinion.

Would be interesting to find how wide spread the practice is.

From your article it appears some offer dinner and movies

"Frankly, it's insulting and very insensitive that somebody would believe that a police officer would factor in a payment for such a difficult decision," said Joe Clure, president of the Phoenix Law Enforcement Association.

Clure said his union gives officers who fire their guns in the line of duty a $25 dinner card and a few movie tickets. On rare occasions, the union will give as much as $500 for a hotel room and travel for an officer who is having an especially difficult time in the aftermath of a shooting, although he doesn't recall that happening in about 10 years.

In addition, there are some that don't offer these types of incentives

In Idaho, State Police Cpl. Fred Rice, chairman of the Idaho State Police Association, said his organization made a conscious decision not to give cash or checks.

"That would almost look like to me, if I gave every time an officer involved in a shooting a $500 check, someone might think, 'Oh, that's a quick way to make money,'" he said.

While I stand on the opposite side of the proponency of "cop bashing" from you, we can agree that this ridiculous and needs to be prohibited.