Roswell Daily Record THE VOICE OF THE PECOS VALLEY
Vol. 123, No. 89 75¢ Daily / $1.25 Sunday
April 12, 2014
Report urges more services to prevent abuse
SANTA FE (AP) — The state agency responsible for protecting children needs more authority to intervene in cases of alleged neglect and abuse when there’s not enough evidence to go to court to remove a child from the home, a top official in Gov. Susana Martinez’s administration told lawmakers on Friday. Children, Youth and Families Secretary Yolanda Berumen-Deines said a change in state law is critical if New Mexico is to prevent tragic cases such as
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the death of Omaree Varela, a 9-year-old Albuquerque boy who police say was kicked to death by his mother. She said the boy’s case is a “perfect example” of when officials refer a family for services to deal with potential mistreatment but there’s nothing to force the parent to participate in programs to help them change their behavior. The department, which investigates reports of neglect and abuse, must show a court there is “clear and
A ribbon to remember
convincing evidence that the child is in imminent danger” in order to remove the child and temporarily place them in protective custody, she said.
“Without proper legislation to allow us to enforce and demand a parent to get engaged in treatment before we have to pull their children from their home, we will find ourselves in the same dilemma over and over again throughout the years to come,” BerumenDeines told the Legislative Finance Committee.
Her comments came as the panel reviewed a report by legislative staff that said the rate of child abuse and neglect has been rising in New Mexico and the state should spend more on services to prevent the mistreatment of children, such as in-home visiting to improve parenting skills.
Berumen-Deines agreed that preventative services can help but said, “If that family decides to shut the door in our face and tell us to go away, we have no legal right to be there.”
A proposal to give the department more authority to intervene and require family participation in programs died in the Legislature earlier this year. “Right now, it’s the greatest frustration for my staff. It’s the greatest frustration for me. I know it’s a frustration for the community when we have multiple referrals, when we know that something is not right in the family, but the conditions in that family are not serious enough to remove a child from that
Vets cemetery work resumes JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
Mark Wilson Photo
Paige Merchant, 4, gets an assist from her mother, Charlee, as she hangs a ribbon to a newly planted chokecherry tree in memory of her father, John Merchant, who passed away in 2013, as twin brother, Dalton, and Doug Ranson look on during the 2014 Arbor Day Tree Planting held at the recently completed Missouri Avenue Park, Friday.
Code enforcement ramps up city cleanup efforts JILL MCLAUGHLIN RECORD STAFF WRITER
The city’s code enforcement department is ramping up efforts to clean up the city, issuing notices for overgrown weeds, yard debris and promises to demolish derelict homes. Mayor Dennis Kintigh asked Code Enforcement Supervisor Bill Bartlett Thursday to report to City Council on progress the department had made recently. One of Kintigh’s main campaign promises was to clean up the city as a way to fight crime. He discussed the issue Tuesday with
members of the Kiwanis Club. According to Kintigh, the city has 22 structures on a short list of properties he wanted to see torn down and cleaned. The city has demolished nine homes recently and placed liens on those lots, Bartlett said. The cost was $98,000. Another 22 properties are on a list and slated for demolition. If a city cleans private property, a lien is placed on that property and the property owner will be forced to prepay the city for the work before the place is sold. The city has also sent out 532 notices to owners for
AP Photo
Jonelle Ellis, left, whose brother was shot and killed by the Albuquerque Police Department, and Sylvia Fuentes, whose son was also shot and killed by APD, look over the Department of Justice's investigation findings on the department, Thursday.
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violation of the city’s weed ordinance. Property owners cannot allow weeds to grow more than one-foot high. A recent rain in Roswell have encouraged weeds to grow. The city’s code enforcement department has received a high number of complaints about overgrown weeds throughout the city. Property owners in violation of the weed ordinance who receive a notice are given 10 days to respond, Bartlett said. Many owners live out of state, however. If the city is unable to work with the property owner, a See CLEANUP, Page A3
home,” she said. The committee chairman, Rep. Luciano “Lucky” Varela, a Santa Fe Democrat, pledged to work with the department on potentially changing the law and providing more services for parents to deal with child mistreatment. He said lawmakers want to collaborate with the Martinez administration and “not create the perception that we’re trying to politicize the problem.” The Republican governor is seeking re-election this year.
Work will resume at the Gen. Douglas L. McBrideRoswell Veterans Cemetery next week as officials look to host a grand opening July 4. Parks Superintendent Ken Smith told city councilors Thursday that he expected work to begin on laser leveling the grounds Monday. The project should cost $4,000. “We’ve received $75,000 from the previous administration to install an asphalt curb and gutter, and an entrance the veterans cemetery,” Smith said. “To date, we have spent about $42,000 on an asphalt curb and gutter, and I have redesigned the 2-acre area for irrigation for the smaller area.” Following the laser level-
ing, crews are expected to begin installing an irrigation system on the lot Thursday, Smith said. That process should take another six to seven weeks. After the irrigation, crews hope to install sod on a large part of the area, but that depends on volunteers, Smith said. “I have been handed this project from the previous administration and am happy to carry this forward,” Smith said. “I think it is a needed thing for our community.” Councilor Jeanine Corn Best said those involved in the project would like to keep the public apprised of the cemetery progress. “I want the public to be fully involved,” Corn Best said. “July Fourth is the opening date. It is what we projected. We will be putSee CEMETERY, Page A3
Firefighters respond to garage fire
Jill McLaughlin Photo
Roswell Fire crews responded to a garage fire Friday night at the 1400 block of Bonita Drive after residents reported a racing vehicle ignited in flames. Someone at the residence reportedly was filling the gas tank with fuel when a spark caught the vehicle and garage on fire. Responders were able to put out the flames before they reached the attic, according to Division Chief Jason Sweatfield.
APD readies for change amid Justice report
ALBUQUERQUE (AP) — The Albuquerque Police Department needs to stop shooting at vehicles, revamp its internal affairs unit and teach its officers how to better deal with mentally ill suspects, the U.S. Justice Department said in a harsh report released this week. But just when and how those refor ms will be adopted, as in other cities under scrutiny, remains unclear. Talks between the Justice Department and Albuquerque officials began Friday and could last for
• DANIEL RAY BARROW • VELDA LUCILLE MORALES • MILDRED LUCILLE REEVES
months before the two sides agree on an outline for reform. If an agreement is not reached, federal officials have the option of suing the city. According to the report, Albuquerque officers too frequently used deadly force on people who posed a minimal threat and used a higher level of force too often on those with mental illness, often violating their constitutional rights. Mayor Richard Berry said the exact cost of a refor m plan is still unknown. However, city of ficials acknowledge a
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possible consent decree could leave Albuquerque with a bill in the millions, as similar agreements in New Orleans and Portland, Ore. “Resources will be made available,” Berry said. On Friday, Berry announced that for mer ACLU lawyer Scott Greenwood and former Cincinnati police Chief Tom Streicher would lead a team to negotiate with the Justice Department about reform outlines. The two men are former adversaries from a U.S. Justice Department investigation into Cincin-
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nati police and were key figures in helping Cincinnati craft similar reforms in a 2002 agreement. Since then, the pair has created a consulting group to help police departments with consent decrees. Greenwood said the Justice Department report into Albuquerque police outlines “fixable” solutions for the city and may not require the millions of dollars needed for consent decrees in other cities. “Some cities have extremely high costs because the
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