Are police justified in self-defense or are police using excessive force and how does this ratio of shootings in Albuquerque compare- Does it compare to other cities of similar size and population? The fallout shows sides of two groups of people who believe they are right. Activists against police-involved shootings say Albuquerque police officers too often respond to situations with deadly force and require change. Police supporters say shootings are higher in Albuquerque because suspects in the area give police more reason to use deadly force. However, the APD agreed to ratify its amended policies to satisfy the public. Albuquerque has the highest ratio of population to police involved in shootings of six cities of similar size and population over the past year and a half. In this heated debate between the law and the people of Albuquerque, both sides present a considerable amount of supporting evidence. from their own point of view. So which side is right? In my opinion, neither side is right. I take aspects from both sides that make sense in my head and can be interpreted as supporting or discrediting either side of this argument. In no case am I taking a neutral position, just a complicated position. The families of the “victims” and the deceased are compiling a fascinating story that involves the “out of control” behavior and “excessive force” tendencies of the Albuquerque Police Department. , as described by Heinz (C2). Many of these statements, in my opinion, are thoughtless and stem from pure emotional anger over the immediate loss of a loved one; however, one case that caught my attention may raise the question. In May 2011, a 22-year-old man was shot and killed because he believed... middle of paper ...... the entire ratio of officers involved in shootings. Until the ongoing investigation by the Justice Department is complete, I don't really see the likelihood that anything will be drastically changed. Works Cited “Deadly Force Protest”. Albuquerque Journal (NM) September 18, 2011: B5. Print.Galvan, Astrid. “Changes in Store for APD – Think Tank Releases Report on Officer-Involved Shootings.” Albuquerque Journal (NM) June 25, 2011: A1. Print. Heinz, Hailey. “Civil rights complaint filed against two officers. » Albuquerque Journal (NM) June 21, 2011: C2. Print. Mckay, Dan and Jeff Proctor. “APD Shootings: No Easy Answers – Data Shows Assaults on Officers and Incidents Not Always Tracked.” Albuquerque Journal (NM) April 19, 2011: A1. Print.Tomlin, Alex. “How Do APD Shootings Compare to Others?” | albuquerque, nm | krqe news 13 new mexico. krqe.com. News. Internet. September 26. 2011.