APD Youth Leadership Lowrider

Since 2019, the Albuquerque Police Department's Southwest Area Command has partnered with a wide variety of local businesses and entities to provide automotive mentorship opportunities to retrofit a police vehicle. APD also held a contest open to local students to create a design to be painted on the vehicles hood. Winners of this contest were provided scholarships for school as well as local recognition. While this initiative involved using $30,000 from APDs Neighborhood Policing budget, local businesses donated over $60,000 worth of materials and operational support in order to make this a reality. Upgrades to the police vehicle include everything from hydraulics to bodywork and artwork. APD is using this community oriented approach to be able to use their vehicles as a tool for building relationships between the lowrider community and law enforcement, while also providing mentorship opportunities for local youth.

Initial conception of the APD Youth Leadership Lowrider began in July of 2019. The program was initiated when the Albuquerque Police Departments Southwest PRT Officers held a Coffee with a Cop event at West Mesa High School. While trying to connect with the students, many of them suggested the department get an actual cool car with a loud stereo-system. Officer Gabriel Candelaria who got the idea from Officer Jason Deatherage, expressed the desire to build a lowrider patrol vehicle to City Councilor Klarissa J. Pe?a and she immediately realized the positive impact this could have on the youth of Albuquerque. Councilor Pe?a and APDs Southwest PRT Team collaborated to make a youth leadership program. Councilor Pe?a allocated $30,000 for the program and the journey of the vehicle began. 

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