http://www.freeabq.com/2017/07/24/dan-klein-column-command-staff/

This article by retired APD Sergeant Dan Klein appearing in the Albuquerque Free Press really gives major insight on just what the new Mayor as well as any new Chief of Police will be up against when it comes to changing the culture within the Albuquerque Police Department (APD).

The article describes the difficulty newly appointed APD Chief Gerry Galvin had when he was appointed by Mayor Jim Baca.

Mayor Baca did a national search and bought Chief Galvin in without allowing him to bring in his own management team.

I worked with Chief Galvin in my capacity as Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, we had our disagreements, but by and large I got along with him.

Chief Galvin knew how to run a law enforcement department having come from the Cleveland Police Department.

The fact that Chief Galvin was recruited from out of state resulted in real resentment from the existing command staff.

Chief Galvin was basically left to fend for himself with many of his captains feeling they were the ones that should have been appointed Chief of Police and they had a sense of entitlement.

In a very real sense, Chief Galvin was set up failure by his own command staff.

The command staff who created, contributed or who did not stop the “culture of aggression” need to be replaced.

The entire APD chain of command must be removed and replaced with a new generation of leadership and not from within the ranks of APD.

A national search must be conducted to identify and hire a new management team to take over APD, including a new Chief of Police, new Deputy Chiefs and a new chain of command to assume control of APD and who are truly committed to the Department of Justice consent decree reforms.

Finding and replacing the command staff is just the first step to address the “culture of aggression” found by the Department of Justice.

APD has consistently shown over many years it cannot police itself which contributed to the “culture of aggression”.

The APD Internal Affairs Unit needs to be abolished and its functions absorbed by the Office Independent Council.

The investigation of police misconduct cases including excessive use of force cases not resulting in death or nor serious bodily harm would be done by “civilian” personnel investigators.

The function and responsibility for investigating police misconduct cases and violations of personnel policy and procedures by police would be assumed by the Office of Independent Council in conjunction with the City Human Resources Department and the Office of Internal Audit where necessary.

The Office of Independent Council would make findings and recommendations to the Police Chief for implementation and imposition of disciplinary action.

Every candidate for Mayor needs to articulate a clear platform on what they will do with APD.

Until aggressive action is taken with APD command staff and the Department of Justice mandated and agreed to reforms, APD will continue to spin out of control, crime rates will continue to rise and Albuquerque will continue to see dramatic spikes in violent crime.

Please see my July 14, 2017 blog article “A Plan To Reform And Restructure APD: Appoint Police Commissioner And Abolish APD Internal Affairs” at www.PeteDinelli.com.