THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT IS RULED NEGLIGENT AND RECKLESS FOR NOT PRESERVING LAPEL CAM VIDEO OF OFFICER JEREMY DEAR SHOOTING AND KILLING 19 YEAR OLD MARY HAWKES IN 2014. IT’S NOW UP TO A JURY TO DETERMINE HOW MUCH THE CITY MUST PAY HAWKES’ FAMILY.
POLICE SAY HAWKES WAS SHOT AS SHE RAN FROM DEAR IN SOUTHEAST ALBUQUERQUE. SINCE THE VIDEO WAS NOT PRESERVED, THERE’S NO WAY TO CONFIRM OFFICER DEAR’S CLAIM THAT SHE POINTED A GUN AT HIM FIRST BEFORE HE FIRED.
THE VIDEO WAS EITHER ALTERED, DELETED, OR NOT RECORDED. DEER SAYS HIS LAPEL CAMERA CAME UNPLUGGED. HALF A DOZEN OTHER OFFICERS MAKE THE SAME CLAIM ABOUT VIDEO FOR INCIDENTS THEY WERE INVOLVED IN.
