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Public speakers press council for stronger responses after Young Park shooting; many voice support for police
Summary
Multiple residents used the council’s public‑comment time on April 21 to demand action on youth violence and to express support for Chief Story and Las Cruces Police Department; speakers asked for more park resources, officer staffing and enforcement changes.
Several Las Cruces residents used public comment at the April 21 City Council meeting to demand stronger local responses to youth violence following a deadly shooting at Young Park and to press the council on park safety and youth programming.
Speakers’ concerns ranged from calls for more park rangers and faster progress on the city skate‑park project to calls for stricter enforcement and juvenile accountability. Britney Gillenham, a parent who said she lives near Young Park, asked for an update on promised park rangers and criticized the long closure of the skate park. “It’s been nearly a year,” she said. She also urged discounted recreational access for low‑income families.
Several speakers defended police and Chief Story after recent public criticism. Chief Tim Jenkins addressed remarks made at a prior council meeting and said running the police department requires sacrifices and that criticism from people who have not done the job is “highly offensive.” Eddie Thomas, who identified himself as a petition organizer and resident, said, “I for one support Chief Story and my money is on him.” Donna Stryker also thanked the chief for his professionalism and urged civility in public comment.
Other speakers urged systemic responses: Sarah Smith said schools and families must teach self‑control and respect for others and called on the council to ensure laws are applied equally and to consider measures such as a teen curfew and greater police pay to improve recruitment and retention.
What councilors said: several councilors acknowledged the public comments and said they will continue to pursue safety, youth programming, and neighborhood engagement. Council members said they will consider revisiting public‑comment procedures to address concerns about meeting timing and civility, and staff and council members pointed speakers to department staff present to answer operational questions (for example, parks staff responded to skate‑park and ranger questions).
Why it matters: speakers tied public‑safety concerns to parks, youth services and police staffing. The city has limited local authority over state juvenile statutes, but councilors and staff said they can pursue local measures such as additional park resources, enforcement priorities and budget decisions that affect staffing.
Ending: residents urged immediate action to improve park safety, youth engagement and enforcement; no formal council motions specific to new public‑safety policy were recorded during the meeting.
