What Can Businesses Do About Slowing Police Response Times?

Across the nation, communities are facing a sobering reality that police response times are getting longer. In Albuquerque in particular, this issue is especially pressing. According to local crime data and public reports, delays in response times for non-life-threatening incidents have grown significantly over the past decade. Factors such as staffing shortages, high call volumes, and rising crime rates are all contributions to this troubling trend.

For business owners, property managers, and event organizers, this presents a serious challenge. When every second counts, waiting 30–45 minutes (or longer) for law enforcement to respond to a burglary, trespassing, or vandalism incident simply isn’t good enough. It puts property, profits, and people at risk.

Albuquerque has always had a very unique landscape when it comes to crime and subsequently has long struggled with high rates of property-related crime. In 2022 alone, the city ranked near the top nationally in burglaries, vehicle thefts, and commercial break-ins. The Albuquerque Police Department is doing what it can with their available resources, but the system is obviously overwhelmed. In fact, police departments across New Mexico, including in Albuquerque and surrounding areas like Rio Rancho, Los Lunas, and Santa Fe, have publicly acknowledged response-time concerns, especially during night hours and weekends. That’s where private security services like AOP Security are stepping in to fill the gap.

AOP Security, headquartered in Albuquerque, was built with one mission in mind: to provide proactive, around-the-clock protection you can count on. Our team understands the urgency of securing people and property, especially when traditional emergency resources are stretched too thin.

Whether it’s a suspicious person loitering near your business, a late-night parking lot altercation, or a perimeter breach on a construction site, AOP’s trained security guards are equipped to assess the level of threat, coordinate the appropriate response, and respond immediately, often in a fraction of the time it would take for law enforcement.

A few of the integrated services that AOP Security specializes in are 24/7 Security On Demand, standing guards at high-risk sites, rapid mobile response for alarms or disturbances, and level 3 armed security professionals (with mandatory prior law enforcement backgrounds of at least 10 years).

AOP Security’s goal isn’t to replace law enforcement, it’s to act as the first line of defense when threats arise, and ensure you’re not waiting helplessly for help to arrive.

Imagine you’re the owner of a shopping plaza in Albuquerque. At 11:45 PM on a Friday, a group of individuals is seen tampering with exterior lighting and pulling on storefront doors. If you call 911, your report will likely be triaged, and with higher priority calls ahead of yours, response may be delayed.

Now imagine that AOP Security patrols your property every night. Our officer on duty spots the suspicious activity and makes an immediate audible call to deter the individuals from continuing any further. If necessary, an officer then intervenes within minutes, before any damage is done, before any theft occurs, and before a crime escalates.

Although this exact situation may be hypothetical, it’s our daily reality at AOP Security and something that we don’t take lightly. Prevention will always be better than reaction when it comes to protecting valuable assets and people.  At AOP, we believe in crime prevention, not just incident response. By deterring bad actors before they take action, we help property owners avoid the high costs of theft, repairs, legal liability, and insurance claims.

It’s a fact: properties with visible, professional security are less likely to be targeted. Our marked patrol vehicles, uniformed guards, and incident documentation all work together to signal, “This location is protected.”

Who Benefits from Proactive Security?

Private security isn’t just for corporations or gated communities. In New Mexico, AOP Security proudly serves small business owners in Albuquerque, Santa Fe, Belen, and beyond. Nonprofits and community organizations also benefit along with churches and schools, retail centers and strip malls, apartments and HOAs, construction zones and equipment yards, special events and festivals.

If you operate a business or manage property in a city where police may take time to arrive, you need a security partner that won’t make you wait.

What Makes AOP Security Different?

While some security companies operate with out-of-state call centers or minimum-wage guards, AOP is local and committed to New Mexico. Our guards live here. Our management is here. Our clients are our neighbors. We pride ourselves on faster on-site response, 24/7 availability (including holidays), bilingual, culturally competent staff, detailed incident reporting, veteran-owned and operated ethics, law enforcement-level training and, above all else, accountability from start to finish. We’re not just watching your site. We’re actively protecting it, day and night for a real-world peace of mind.

AOP Security is proud to serve dozens of businesses across New Mexico who once struggled with delayed police response.  If you’ve experienced long police wait times or simply want to prevent crime before it happens, then it’s time to consider a proactive solution. AOP Security offers free consultations and on-site assessments to determine the best protection plan for your property or event.

Visit www.AOPsecurity.com or call (505) 897-1307 to learn how your business can benefit from personalized, 24 hour security services from one of the most trusted security companies in Albuquerque.

** DISCLAIMER ** AOP Security will not respond to violent or life-threatening situations. If you are in a dangerous or potentially life-threatening situation, please dial 911 immediately. Calls in that nature will need to be handled by local law enforcement for the proper protection of all parties. 

Categorised in: Security on Demand

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