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Albuquerque’s new police chief commended officers for showing restraint and said he is about to unveil reforms that include changes to the embattled department’s recruiting process, just one day after a protest over police shootings devolved into violence.

Riot police launch tear gas toward activists in downtown Albuquerque, N.M. following a 10-hour protest around the city, Sunday, March 30, 2014.

Gorden Eden Jr. spoke to reporters after more than 300 people took to the streets Sunday, calling for him and other city officials to resign. The protest turned violent that evening, when people began hunting down officers, throwing rocks and bottles, and spitting on officers, he said.

Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden Jr. spoke to reporters after more than 300 people took to the streets Sunday, calling for him and other city officials to resign

Albuquerque Police Chief Gorden Eden Jr. spoke to reporters after more than 300 people took to the streets Sunday, calling for him and other city officials to resign (photo Albuquerque Journal)

The chief said officials decided to disperse the crowd with tear gas after a man pulled out an AK-47, others blocked traffic by lying down on Interstate 25 and unruly crowds trapped people and officers in cars. Protesters also started attacking each other, impeded emergency crews and blocked the entrance to a hospital.

There was only one minor injury, an officer who hurt his knee, Gorden Eden said. Four protesters were arrested during the 12-hour demonstration.

Sunday’s protest and another last week were in response to the 37 shootings Albuquerque police have been involved in since 2010, 23 of them fatal, including the recent case of a homeless camper killed after he appeared to be surrendering. By comparison, police in the similarly sized cities of Denver and Oakland have been involved in fatal and non-fatal shootings totaling 27 and 23, respectively.

The US Justice Department has been investigating the Albuquerque department for more than a year, looking into complaints of civil rights violations and allegations of excessive use of force.

Gorden Eden, who has been on the job for a month, says he is working on reforming the department’s recruiting process. He says a “new recruiting philosophy” will be announced by early next week. An independent review of the department’s shootings nearly two years ago cited issues with officers being unable to de-escalate situations. It called for better screening to find candidates with problem-solving skills.

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Albuquerque riot officers clashed with protesters during a 10-hour march against police shootings.

Police fired tear gas at demonstrators and made several arrests following unrest in the centre of the New Mexico city, according to local media reports.

It comes after a video emerged of police shooting dead a homeless man named as James Boyd.

It was filmed by the police using cameras and posted online following a public information request.

Meanwhile Albuquerque police said their website had been temporarily brought down on Sunday because of a cyber-attack.

The hacking collective Anonymous had warned of retaliation over the James Boyd shooting.

Albuquerque riot officers clashed with protesters during a 10-hour march against police shootings

Albuquerque riot officers clashed with protesters during a 10-hour march against police shootings

The man was killed in the foothills of the Sandia Mountains on the east side of Albuquerque following a stand-off.

Last week, Albuquerque police fatally shot another man, identified as Alfred Redwine, at a housing estate.

The department has been involved in 37 shootings, 24 of them fatal, since 2010, according to the Albuquerque Journal.

Critics say it is far too many for a department serving a city of about 555,000.

Hundreds of protesters took to the streets on Sunday afternoon and demonstrations the continued into the early evening, according to the Associated Press.

Mayor Richard Berry was quoted by the Albuquerque Journal saying stones were thrown at officers.

The US Justice Department has been investigating the Albuquerque Police Department for more than a year, looking into complaints of civil rights violations and allegations of excessive use of force.

The FBI has opened an investigation into the shooting of James Boyd on March 16.

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