Two law enforcement agencies were the target of vandalism Thursday night and early Friday morning.
The buildings of the Belen Police Department on Becker Avenue and the Valencia County Sheriffâs Office on Luna Avenue in Los Lunas were both vandalized with graffiti.
The BPD received most of the damage, with spray paint on the front wall and the bay door of its storage building, as well as five marked police units. The vandals also busted out the back window of one of those units. Belen Police Chief James Harris estimates the damage to run in the thousands of dollars.
BELENâA 7-year-old Belen girl was severely injured last Thursday when two Rottweilers attacked her and her grandmother.
Christine Valdez said her granddaughter, Ashley Diaz, is currently in the special care unit at UNMâs Children Hospital in Albuquerque, and has already undergone two surgeries. The road to recovery will be a long one, but Valdez said Ashley is doing as well as can be expected.
Ashley Diaz, 7, of Belen, is currently recovering from injuries she sustained during a dog attack on Thursday, Feb. 18. Her grandmother, Christine Valdez, said the girl has undergone two surgeries. Submitted photo
Belen Police Chief James Harris said the incident occurred just after 3 p.m., Thursday, Feb. 18, near an apartment complex on Aragon Road. He said the girl and a friend were outside playing when they fell into a neighboring property and she was attacked by the two dogs.
Local law enforcement officials are sounding off about what some call a âterribleâ bill circulating its way through the state Legislature.
If signed into law, Senate Bill 227, introduced by Sen. Linda Lopez (D-Bernalillo), would establish a standard use-of-force policy for law enforcement agencies across New Mexico.
SB 227 would prohibit police officers and deputies from using physical force until theyâve exhausted de-escalation tactics and techniques and, even then, force must be proportionate to the situation.
It also forbids law enforcement from using deadly force against someone who is a threat only to themselves, restricts the ability to shoot at moving vehicles and bans the use of chokeholds, tear gas, rubber bullets and âshall not direct a dog to bite a person.â
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