"Bounty System" Under Fire in Albuquerque

In the wake of Florida's "Stand Your Ground" laws, which are receiving increased scrutiny following the untimely death of Trayvon Martin, the Albuquerque policemen's union must answer for the controversial -- and possibly corrupt -- practice of awarding stipends to police officers placed on paid leave following fatalities in the line of duty, committed under the color of authority.

In most cases, according to a recent report by the New York Times "Payments of Albuquerque Officers are called 'Bounty System'" - March 25, 2012), police officers involved in a questionable shooting that ends in a suspect's death receive a stipend. The Albuquerque policemen's union claim that the disbursement serves only to alleviate the stress which the police officer endures following any investigation into possible wrongdoing. Because of the trauma associated with the necessary discretion that characterizes police work, individual officers take advantage of administrative leave to recuperate and to permit their families to regroup and heal.

Victims of family members who have been killed in the line of fire are understandable outraged by the practice. Some parents, like Mike Gomez, submit that the stipends smack of bounty money, or a subtle reward for having a hair-trigger. In light of the funds spent on the accused assailant, parents who suffer the loss of a loved one must bear the cost burying their felled family member while absorbing the time-consuming and grieving task of making the most of a life deprived of a cherished relative.

I concur with the upsetting perception that a growing number of victims' advocates have manifested against this practice, not just in New Mexico but also in Arizona. Instead of subsidizing the vacation of peace officers disquieted after a controversial shooting, the Governor of New Mexico and city leaders must press police departments to divert necessary funds to offset the final expense following mistaken fatalities.

Despite the great challenges of tedium and tension that accompany law enforcement, there is no excuse for the thoughtless, insensitive, and even suspect practice of compensating police officer who have exercised dubious discretion in firing and killing private citizens. Public sector unions are already enduring increased surveillance from taxpayers who question the use of their dollars toward public employees. "Bounty" payments following shooting deaths only diminish the standing of officers sworn to serve and protect their communities.