Chefs take their talents to the streets in new food-truck ventures Taste, C-1
Locally owned and independent
Wednesday, January 22, 2014
www.santafenewmexican.com 75¢
State police under scrutiny for investigating own By Uriel J. Garcia and Chris Quintana
The New Mexican
In Colorado, when a state trooper is involved in a shooting, the agency enlists a group of officers from other law enforcement organizations to investigate. In Arizona, the state police hand over such investigations to local departments. But in New Mexico, the state police investigates its own officer-
involved shootings in most counties. Criminology experts question the practice, saying it’s always better to bring in outside agencies to avoid the bias or the appearance of bias in what are sensitive investigations. “There’s certainly some transparency issues if you’re investigating your own officer,” said Geoffrey P. Alpert, a criminology professor at the University of South Carolina.
Lobos run past Boise State Hugh Greenwood scores season-high 20 points for The University of New Mexico. SPORTS, B-5
Dad forgives Roswell shooter The father of one of the victims says parents need to be more involved. LOCAL NEwS, B-1
City planning River Trail fixes
INSIdE
New Mexico State Police Officer Eric Armijo investigates the scene of a police shooting on Calle Vencejo in February 2011. Another state police officer had been stabbed after chasing a man fleeing a DWI stop. The officer then shot the man, and both were hospitalized. Many experts question the state police policy of investigating its own officers who are involved in shootings. NEW MEXICAN FILE PHOTO
u District attorney “surprised” by grand jury’s decision in officer shooting. PAgE A-6
“Why wouldn’t you investigate your own officer? Because there’s tendency to help him out, so to speak.” New Mexico State Police have
Please see SCRUTINY, Page A-6
2014 LEGISLATURE: STATE OF THE STATE ADDRESS
Governor makes plea for ‘reform over the status quo’
An underpass at St. Francis Drive and West Alameda Street could improve safety. LOCAL NEwS, B-1
State might ease digital sign rules Night sky advocates protest fewer restrictions on electronic billboards By Staci Matlock The New Mexican
Glowing electronic billboards could soon be legal along interstates and other federal highways in New Mexico. Advocates for dark skies think the lighted digital signs would be bad news for driver safety and the state’s nighttime skyscape. Outdoor advertisers, however, deny that digital billboards increase traffic accidents or negatively impact dark skies. While the state Department of Transportation has issued permits for 3,845 off-premises outdoor advertising billboards along New Mexico highways, none of them are electronic, since those aren’t allowed under current state rules. Members of the state Transportation Commission are scheduled to vote Thursday in Santa Fe on an amended rule regulating outdoor advertising.
Please see SIgN, Page A-5 Cars drive past an electronic sign in front of the Buffalo Thunder Resort & Casino in Pojoaque Pueblo on Tuesday. The state, which is considering new rules that would allow electronic billboards along New Mexico highways, has no jurisdiction over electronic billboards on pueblo land and allows cities and counties to create their own rules on digital signs.
Gov. Susana Martinez greets lawmakers and other dignitaries on her way out after delivering her State of the State address at the state Capitol on Tuesday. LUIS SÁNCHEZ SATURNO/THE NEW MEXICAN
Martinez calls for bipartisanship, compromise on session’s opening day By Steve Terrell The New Mexican
R
epublican Gov. Susana Martinez, speaking on the opening day of the New Mexico Legislature, made a plea for bipartisanship at the end of her State of the State address. However, many of the issues she brought up in her 47-minute speech already have attracted wide opposition from Democrats. “Let’s continue to choose reform over the status quo,” the governor said. “With great challenges come great opportunities,”she said. “To seize these opportunities, we must come together — Republicans and Democrats, the Legislature and the governor. … While we won’t agree
CLYDE MUELLER THE NEW MEXICAN
on everything, and there will certainly be spirited debates, I am committed to working with you to find common ground, just like we have in the past, because the people of New Mexico deserve nothing less.” But by the reactions of Democratic legislators both during and after the speech, it appeared that common ground might be hard to find on many key elements of Martinez’s agenda — especially on issues that have been fought in previous sessions, such as the proposed repeal of the law that allows the state to issue driver’s licenses to illegal immigrants, and educational issues like Martinez’s third-grade reading initiative, teacher evaluations and merit pay. As often is the case with the president’s State of the Union address to Congress, dur-
Despite hype, diplomats downplay expectations for Syria peace talks By Lori Hinnant and Zeina Karam
The Associated Press
MONTREUX, Switzerland — In nearly the same breath, the world’s most powerful diplomats have hyped the importance of this week’s peace conference on Syria and downplayed expectations for a breakthrough. The timeframe for the talks is a
Index
Calendar A-2
week to 10 days, and then a break — but for what, and for how long? Syria’s Western-backed opposition and President Bashar Assad’s handpicked representatives have never spoken face-to-face, and it’s not at all clear how much either side — or their proxy powerbrokers — really want an end to the war. Here’s a look at the goals of the participants and
Classifieds C-3
Comics C-8
Lotteries A-2
how the conference, which opens Wednesday, could unfold.
What’s at stake Fighting in Syria has killed more than 130,000 people and left millions of refugees, either in camps or squats
Opinions A-7
Please see SYRIA, Page A-5
Police notes B-2
Editor: Ray Rivera, 986-3033, rrivera@sfnewmexican.com Design and headlines: Kristina Dunham, kdunham@sfnewmexican.com
Sports B-5
Pasapick www.pasatiempomagazine.com
‘SITElab 4’ Interactive project by photographer Will Wilson in collaboration with New Mexico School for the Arts students, reception 5:30-7 p.m., SITE Santa Fe, 1606 Paseo de Peralta, 989-1199, no charge. Exhibit up through Sunday.
Time Out C-7
Taste C-1
Travel C-2
Main office: 983-3303 Late paper: 986-3010
INSIdE u Democrats blast speech for leaving out behavioral health, CYFD issues. PAgE A-4 u The facts behind Martinez’s State of the State and the Democrats’ rebuttal. PAgE A-4 u Legislative roundup. PAgE A-5
ing Martinez’s speech, the only lawmakers who responded to the obvious applause lines on controversial issues were members of her own party. Almost all Democrats remained quiet as their GOP colleagues applauded. Asked about this, Public Education Secretary-designate Hanna Skandera said, “From the vantage point of folks clapping or not clapping,
Please see STATE, Page A-4
Obituaries James S. Phelps, 48, Santa Fe, Jan. 16 Raphael “Ralph” Alberico, 79, Santa Fe, Jan. 15 Marilyn R. Penner, Jan. 7 Prudy J. Jaramillo, Santa Fe, Jan. 20 PAgE B-2
Today Partly sunny. High 51, low 22. PAgE A-8
Three sections, 24 pages 165th year, No. 22 Publication No. 596-440