Former Albuquerque mayoral candidate and two-term Bernalillo County Sheriff Darren White is sounding the alarm as the New Mexico National Guard prepares to leave Albuquerque—arguing that the city remains dangerously unsafe and that officials are declaring victory far too soon.
White reacted sharply on X to news that the Guard’s six-month deployment is ending, writing: “So, was it Mission Accomplished, or the election is over?” His comment cut to the heart of growing skepticism over whether Operation Zia Shield actually solved anything—or merely provided temporary political cover.
According to KOB 4, the National Guard deployment, which began in June and involved roughly 70 Guard members, officially concludes this week. The Guard was tasked with administrative and logistical support so Albuquerque Police Department officers could focus on patrols and arrests .
APD Chief Harold Medina said the operation achieved its limited goal but stressed it was never intended as a long-term fix. “The deployment helped free officers to do enforcement work,” Medina told KOB 4, adding that it exposed deeper, systemic failures within New Mexico’s criminal justice system .
City leaders point to improved crime statistics during the deployment, including a reported 34% decrease in homicides compared to this time last year, along with significant increases in arrests . Mayor Tim Keller defended the Guard’s presence, saying, “No one is saying this was a magic solution to our deep-seated problems,” but argued it helped APD .
Yet on the ground, Albuquerque continues to see shocking acts of violence—particularly along Central Avenue, the very corridor the Guard was meant to stabilize.
Just days before the Guard’s exit, Albuquerque Police charged 56-year-old Bernest Benjamin with open count murder after a fatal stabbing near the ART bus platform at Central Avenue and Louisiana Boulevard SE, according to detailed reporting by ABQ Raw . Investigators allege Benjamin followed the victim off a city bus and stabbed him in the chest in full view of witnesses and surveillance cameras. The victim collapsed and died in the roadway.
Even more troubling, ABQ Raw reports Benjamin is no stranger to violent crime. He previously pleaded no contest to involuntary manslaughter in 2019 and had been repeatedly released under New Mexico’s pretrial release system despite being classified as a high risk to reoffend . A warrant for violating release conditions was issued roughly 35 hours before the murder, raising serious questions about systemic failures.
Another incident underscores the city’s ongoing instability. According to ABQ Raw, police arrested 33-year-old Trevarius Money after he allegedly started a fire near a business on 3rd Street NW—setting cardboard ablaze to keep warm, which then spread and damaged the building . The property owner told police he has dealt with repeated fires caused by transient individuals. Despite prior arrests and a lengthy criminal history, Money was issued a criminal trespass notice rather than jailed.
Even Chief Medina acknowledged that Central Avenue remains in crisis. “Does Central look better? No,” he said, according to KOB 4, emphasizing that officers are arresting more people than prosecutors and courts can handle under current law .
White’s critique reflects what many Albuquerque residents feel daily: National Guard support may have improved paperwork and patrol capacity, but it did not fix the revolving-door justice system, unchecked homelessness, or violent repeat offenders roaming the streets.
As the Guard leaves and politicians tout statistics, real-world violence continues—fueling fears that Albuquerque is once again being left to fend for itself in a system many say is fundamentally broken.