BERNALILLO COUNTY GRAND JURIES WILL NO LONGER BE USED TO INVESTIGATE OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS. DISTRICT ATTORNEY KARI BRANDENBURG TELLS 770 KKOB HER OFFICE WILL NOW HAVE THAT RESPONSIBILITY. SHE SAYS THEY'LL MAKE INTERNAL DECISION ON WHETHER THEY HAVE PROBABLE CAUSE TO GO FORWARD WITH CRIMINAL CHARGES IN OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTING.

BRANDENBURG SAYS DISTRICT COURT JUDGES ESSENTIALLY THREW OUT THE GRAND JURY SYSTEM...AND THE ONLY OTHER OPTION IS THAT HER OFFICE HANDLE POLICE SHOOTINGS. SHE SAYS BETWEEN 15 AND 17 CASES ARE NOW PENDING...AND THEY'LL TAKE THEM ONE AT A TIME.

IN ITS FIRST SUCH RULING, THE BERNALILLO COUNTY D-A'S OFFICE SAYS AN ALBUQUERQUE POLICE SHOOTING FROM LAST YEAR WAS JUSTIFIED. IT SAYS OFFICER MARIO PEREZ DID NOT COMMIT A CRIME WHEN HE SHOT AND KILLED MARK BEECHUM IN JANUARY OF 2012. APD SAYS PEREZ AND BEECHUM EXCHANGED GUNFIRE AT CLOSE RANGE AFTER BEECHUM HAD ROBBED THE CATHOLIC CENTER/ST. PIUS COMPLEX ON ALBUQUERQUE'S WEST SIDE.