Councilors want say in APD, AFD chief picks

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - In the wake of Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz announcing his retirement, one city councilor says now is the time to reexamine how the city selects its top cop.

As it currently stands, the mayor hires and fires the city’s police chief. Councilor Ken Sanchez is drafting a charter amendment that would give the City Council a role in this process.

“We confirm the public safety director for the city of Albuquerque; we confirm the (chief administrative officer),” Sanchez said. “Some positions are going through a confirmation process anyway, and it shouldn’t be a problem, I believe, to confirm the police and fire chief.”

Councilors Isaac Benton and Rey Garduño back Sanchez’s proposal. Benton was one of two councilors who called for Schultz’s resignation earlier this week.

In a statement to KRQE, Garduño said, “Any charter amendment that would deal with having a chief, both for the fire and police department, go through a confirmation process would be something that I would support. Not to take away from the mayor’s ability to choose someone, but rather to make sure the chiefs have been vetted and confirmed by the City Council, which is the legislative branch.”

One councilor not on board: Brad Winter. Winter told News 13 he does not think any changes need to be made to the way police and fire chiefs are selected and that he would not support the amendment.

Because it’s a charter amendment, voters would have the final say in October.

Schultz has not given a date when he will step down, but in a letter to the city he suggests he will retire this summer or fall. Sanchez says because of the vote’s timing, it’s likely this amendment would not apply to Schultz’s immediate replacement.

Councilors Meyers, Cook, Harris and Jones did not respond to inquiries by the deadline for this report.

A rep for the mayor’s office said there will be no comment from there until they are able to read through the proposed changes.  Council President Dan Lewis also said he wanted to read the proposal first.

Sanchez said he plans to introduce a draft of the proposals at an April council meeting.