+34
New Mexico city will seek to adopt racial bias training for police and may require officers to intervene in possible excessive force episodes following the choking death of a Latino man.
The deal between the city of Las Cruces and a lawyer for the family of Antonio Valenzuela was part of the relatives' push to reform Las Cruces police following their wrongful death lawsuit in the case.
The Washington Post has reported that between 2015 and last April, Las Cruces — where nearly 60% of residents are Hispanic — recorded the highest per capita rate of police killings in the nation. Under the agreement, Las Cruces police agreed to ban all chokeholds and fire any officer who violates the new policy — something city officials say the city already does. Police also must adopt a warning system involving officers who use excessive force and forge a policy so officers can undergo yearly mental health exams.The city also agreed to pay compensation to Valenzuela's family, but terms were not disclosed. “We are confident that we have made it cost-prohibitive for the Las Cruces Police Department to continue wrongfully killing its citizens,” Sam Bregman, the family's attorney, said. Adrian Guzman, a spokesman for the city, said some of the proposed policies are already in place. The vascular neck restraint, for example, was prohibited by a policy put forth by the former police chief, Guzman said. “For the past five years, the city engaged a police audit firm that reported internal affairs complaints and reported on the number of use of force complaints,” Guzman said. He said the city will seek proposals that continue and expand such reporting. Valenzuela, 40, had a warrant out for his arrest because of a parole violation and fought with officers who tried to detain him after he fled from a traffic stop in February. After a chase, then-Las Cruces Officer Christopher Smelser applied the chokehold. Smelser, who is Hispanic, can be heard on police video saying, “I’m going to choke you out, bro.” Valenzuela died at the scene. The coroner determined he died from asphyxial injuries and that he had methamphetamine in his system which contributed to his death.Smelser’s attorney, Amy L. Orlando, said Smelser had been trained to use the hold and the murder charge was a political move meant to grab headlines. The charge came as Black Lives Matter protests swept the nation in the wake of the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis. Demonstrators have put pressure on police departments to change policies involving the use of force and interactions with Black, Latino, and Native American residents. The death of Valenzuela generated protests in Las Cruces, 46 miles north of the U.S.-Mexico border. There were renewed protests after Floyd's death.Associated Press journalist Russell Contreras is a member of the AP’s Race and Ethnicity Team. Follow Contreras on Twitter at http://twitter.com/russcontreras.This story was first published on August 13, 2020. It was updated on August 14, 2020, to correct by saying former Las Cruces officer Christopher Smelser is Hispanic, not white.
Scratch the next story
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News: You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Mexico supports extending U.S.-Mexico land border restrictions another monthMexico has told the U.S. government that it supports extending restrictions on non-essential travel across their shared land border for an additional month, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard said on Thursday.
Read more »
New Zealand reports 12 new confirmed coronavirus casesNew Zealand on Friday reported 12 new confirmed cases of coronavirus for the last 24 hours as the country awaits an announcement from Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern on whether a lockdown in its biggest city will be eased or extended.
Read more »
Exclusive: Lincoln Project's new ads target Latino voters in critical 2020 statesThe Lincoln Project is continuing their pivot to targeting Latino voters in the critical states of Florida, Arizona, and Texas, Newsweek has learned exclusively.
Read more »
New York DA asks judge to dismiss Trump's new challenges to grand jury subpoenaThe Manhattan district attorney's office asks a federal judge to dismiss President Trump's challenges to a grand jury subpoena for his financial records
Read more »
New Zealand Investigates A Mystery: Where Did Its New Cases Come From?The hunt is on to find the source of the coronavirus outbreak, now at 30 cases. The country is working to understand how the virus slipped through its defenses.
Read more »
Can New Zealand Contain Its New Coronavirus Outbreak?After 102 Days Covid Free, New Zealand’s Resurgence Highlights the Difficulties of Returning to Normal Life
Read more »