Albuquerque’s search for a better way of handling crises on its streets has drawn the attention of Harvard Business School.
The organization recently studied the creation of Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS), a third plank in the city’s emergency response strategy, along with the police and fire departments.
That examination resulted in a new case study titled, “In That Crucible, You Find Innovation: Public Safety Transformation in Albuquerque.”
Authors Hise O. Gibson and Antonio M. Oftelie call the department “a model for reimagining public safety and community well-being.”
The case study focuses on efforts by Mayor Tim Keller and other city leaders in response to protests across the United States in 2020, following the police killing of George Floyd in Minneapolis.
“Confronted with a federal consent decree regarding excessive force by the Albuquerque Police Department and heightened calls for systemic change, Mayor Keller recognized the urgent need to transform Albuquerque’s public safety landscape,” a city press release states. “This led to the creation of ACS, which provides a compassionate, non-police response to crises related to behavioral health, homelessness, and substance use.”
Keller said city officials envisioned social workers and mental health professionals connecting people with the services they need, as opposed to the previous model, which resulted in trips to jail or hospitals for people the police contacted after 911 calls.
“ACS is doing just that, getting people the right help at the right time, and it has become the blueprint for alternative first response around the country,” Keller said. “I hope to see every major city in America with a community safety (agency) in the future.”
Gibson, a senior lecturer of business administration at Harvard Business School, said ACS represents a new winning formula of vision and strategy. He praised Albuquerque’s efforts to launch the program while simultaneously reforming its traditional policing model.
“This case will help executives in all sectors learn about what it takes to lead complex and large-scale transformation at the same time,” Gibson said.
The release said the city wanted to change its public safety approach to address mental and behavioral health and homelessness.
“By diverting specific crisis responses away from police and toward trained professionals, Albuquerque is not only addressing immediate community needs, but also fostering long-term societal resilience,” the case study concludes.
“This case study stresses the importance of rethinking our approach to public safety,” ACS Director Jodie Esquibel said. “By prioritizing compassionate responses, we are not only addressing immediate needs but also laying the groundwork for a more resilient community.”
The term ” The jury is still out” describes this new program. The intentions are welcomed by many of Albuquerque’s citizens. However the optics may be more clear than the results. It is strange that El Paso, a mere 4 hours away with a warmer climate has much less of the streetpeople issues. Perhaps Harvard could compare the two cities.