Families hail DOJ investigation of APD

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Renetta and Stephen Torres see Tuesday as momentous with announcement of  the Department of Justice investigation of the Albuquerque Police Department.

The Torres' 27-year-old son, Christopher, was shot and killed in their Taylor Ranch backyard in April 2011. 

Renetta says her son was schizophrenic and could have survived the first shot, was killed by the second and shot one more time. The Torres' say APD has to use discretion and shooting a person should not be the first course of action.

"This is not the wild, wild west," says Renetta Torres. She says the problem is from the top down. 

Her husband Stephen says they have tried to reach out to APD, but had no luck and it's unfortunate that the DOJ has to step in, but he and his wife are happy this is moving forward.

Others have hailed the DOJ investigation. 

Peter Simonson with the American Civil Liberties Union doesn't consider this decision a victory or a black eye for the city. Instead, Simonson says this is really a question of needing to see a change in the department, because the community's welfare is threatened in the current conditions.  

Executive Director of L.U.L.A.C, Ralph Arellanes says his organization was pushing for change at APD for years and although the focus has been on the last two years, problems have existed for many more. Arellanes says his organization and the Hispanic Roundtable are pleased with the DOJ move and hope and pray for justice to prevail.

The Torres' were part of a citizen group that showed up at City Council meetings for months and today's announcement is what they were wanting. Renetta says they can't bring their son Christopher back, but hopefully they can make a difference in this community so other families won't have to go through what they have.