According to the New Mexico Political Report, just days after the election, attention is already turning to the 2018 New Mexico Governor’s race. US Senator Tom Udall, who was just re-elected two years ago to a six year term, and Congresswoman Mitchell Lujan Grisham, who just got re-elected, are now saying they want to run for Governor. By all accounts, Udall and Lujan Grisham are doing a good job in Washington and going up the seniority ladder in Congress that is so important to a small state like New Mexico.

I never believe elected officials who say “people are urging me to run” for another office when they have not even finished the term they have been elected and agreed to serve. It is that sense of selfishness and self entitlement that they have that really bugs me. It is like they are saying, “I got the job I always told you I wanted, but now I am not satisfied and want another job and I get to choose whatever I want to be elected to because of who I am”.

When an already elected official gives up a position held and is elected to, the filled position becomes at risk. Example: If US Senator Tom Udall runs for Governor and wins, he will appoint his successor who will be vulnerable. If Congresswoman Mitchell Lujan Grisham runs for Governor, she gives up a house seat and a Republican like Richard Berry would have good chance of taking it back for the Republicans. State Auditor Tim Keller is now running for Mayor without finishing even half a term and if he is elected Mayor, Governor Martinez will appoint his successor.

It is the domino effect that these people do not care about, just as long as they get the job they think they want.

What a very sharp contrast between Democrat Santa Fe Mayor Javier Gonzales and Republican Albuquerque Mayor Richard Berry.

You really have to commend Mayor Javier Gonzalez for standing up and voicing his support for members of his own community. Mayor Gonzales went on Fox News to be interviewed by Megyn Kelly to debunk the contention that sanctuary cities have more crime because of minorities and he defended Santa Fe’s Sanctuary City policy. Mayor Gonzalez showed real backbone and courage. Mayor Gonzalez was also there for his community and brought it together when he put together and led a vigil after the mass shooting in Orlando, Florida.

Eight years ago, Berry campaigned on the platform that he would end Albuquerque’s Sanctuary City policy when none existed, but his right wing supporters had a traveling bill billboard condemning Mayor Martin Chavez for it. Berry also said he opposed marriage equality and that marriage could only be between a man and a woman and he declined to speak at the memorial service held by our LGBTQ community for the Orlando, Florida, shootings. Berry has also never participated in Gay Pride events.

People need to really remember actions of their elected officials that are so revealing of leadership.

My response to the Albuquerque Journal article published on November 12, 2016:

“Police reform groups say APD chief not involved”

The APD statement describing Eden as having a “very good sense, very good understanding and a hand in” the reforms is absolutely true when viewed in the context that Eden and his command staff are really NOT at all committed to implementing the DOJ reforms. Community groups are dismayed and frustrated over Eden’s failure to attend meetings, ignore findings and disciplinary recommendations, and failure to attend settlement hearings and they say Eden allows the City Attorney to explain APD’s reform efforts.

Chief Eden and his command staff are lying when they say they are committed to the DOJ mandated reforms and proof of the lie is contained in Third and the Fourth progress reports submitted by Federal Monitor James Ginger to the Federal Court.

The July 1, 2016 third report states: “Across the board … the components in APD’s system for overseeing and holding officers accountable for the use of force, for the most part, has failed … the serious deficiencies revealed point to a deeply-rooted systemic problem. … The deficiencies, in part, indicate a culture [of] low accountability is at work within APD, particularly in chain-of-command reviews. …”
The November 1, 2016 fourth report states that when “excessive use of force” incidents are investigated by the APD Critical Incident Team , it“[deploys] carefully worded excuses, apparently designed not to find fault with officer actions” and “[uses] language and terminology apparently designed to absolve officers and supervisors of their responsibility to follow certain CASA (Court Approved Settlement Agreement) related provisions.

Chief Eden and the entire chain of command of APD need to be removed and replaced with a new generation of leadership committed to the reform process before any real progress will be made with the DOJ agreed to and mandated reforms.

Click here for the full KOB-TV story.

Randi Mc Ginn should go ahead and make the decision. As a former Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, I suspect legal research will show Special Prosecutor Randi Mc Ginn has the exclusive authority and right to decide whether or not to proceed with another criminal trial. It was the office of the DA that was disqualified and many of the same Deputy and Assistant District Attorneys and staff who originally reviewed the case will still be employed when the new DA assumes office. The Judge could easily say a conflict still remains. I worked with Randi McGinn in the District Attorney’s office violent crimes division over 30 years ago, know her well, respect her trial skills, and trust her judgment.

On Veterans Day, I must pay tribute to members of my family who have given so much and sacrificed so much to protect our freedoms and to protect this great country of ours.

My father Paul Dinelli and my Uncle Pete Dinelli, for whom I was named after, both served in the US Army during World War II when the United States went to war with Italy, Germany and Japan. My Uncle Pete Dinelli was killed in action and my father Paul Dinelli was a disabled American Veteran. My uncles Fred Fresques and Alex Fresques, my mother’s two brothers, also saw extensive combat in World War II and saw action they refused to talk about to anyone. My father in law, George W. Case served in the US Navy during World War II, saw action, and was so proud of his service that he wore a WW II Veterans cap every day the last few years of his life.

My nephew Dante Dinelli served 20 + years in the US Navy and retired as a Master Chief Officer serving with distinction. My two nephews, Matthew Barnes and Brandon Barnes are both currently Captains in the United States Marine Corps. My nephew Brandon is a graduate of the US Naval Academy and my nephew Matthew has served in Afghanistan.

To all of the wonderful and courageous men and women who have served and continue to serve our country to protect and secure all of our freedoms and the ideals upon which the United States was founded upon, and to those who made the ultimate sacrifice, I thank you for your service to our Country. Your service and sacrifices will never be forgotten. God bless you all and may God bless this great country of ours.

This is the link to my Albuquerque Journal guest editorial published four years ago, December 12, 2012 , regarding APD. Just replace the name Ray Schultz with Gordon Eden and the editorial still holds true today because nothing has changed except things only have gotten worse with APD. I post this now because of a vulgar FACEBOOK comment was recently directed at me and my tenure as Chief Public Safety Officer where I said APD cops did far better before Berry took office.
Seven years ago, APD was fully staffed at 1,100 officers, APD was the best trained, best equipped, best paid in its history and sworn officers were consistently given raises more than the average city employee and given retention and incentive bonuses and sign on and education pay. Crime was down. Berry and his appointed Chief’s have destroyed one of the finest police departments in the country and it will take years to recover. But hey, were gonna have a shiny new ART bus down Central!