Opinion _ABQ Journal Editorial page March 15, 2004

   List of APD Problems
   Points To Leadership
   Last week's closure of the prisoner transfer station is the latest
   in a string of problems at the Albuquerque Police Department that
   should prompt more than the usual internal review.
   The nature and the number of problems casts doubt on the management
   of APD. The mayor should review the leadership abilities of his
   appointees, Police Chief Gil Gallegos and Chief Public Safety
   Officer Nick Bakas.
   * The city's Police Oversight Committee determined in January that
   some officers resorted to unreasonable force when they used batons
   and tear gas at a March 20 anti-war demonstration. Gallegos
   disagreed with the findings and took no action.
   * Two lawsuits were filed against APD in February. In the first, two
   University of New Mexico students claim two bicycle policemen maced,
   beat and arrested them after they aided two strangers who had been
   attacked. The two Good Samaritans ended up spending $1,500 to fight
   charges of public affray, disorderly conduct and resisting arrest --
   all of which were dismissed. The suit claims the police didn't even
   show up until after the attackers had fled, and they were told
   repeatedly by the attack victims that their rescuers were not at fault.
   In the second suit, Chris Jones is trying to get back $10,000 in
   cash seized from a locked safe at his home by police officers who
   were called to quell a domestic disturbance.
   Jones, who has been trying to get his money back since 2001, was
   never charged in connection with the incident. His attorney, Jody
   Neal-Post, said she knows of other instances similar to her client's
   case.
   Criminal defense attorney David Serna says he has at least six
   clients who can't get seized items back from APD.
   * APD's evidence unit has had chronic problems keeping track of cash
   and property turned in by investigators. A 1999 audit cited
   laxsecurity, cash discrepancies and problems with inventory and
   evidence-keeping procedures. Follow-up audits indicated that
   problems still existed, and recent allegations involve thousands of
   dollars in missing cash and property.
   After doing an internal investigation, Bakas has called for an
   independent audit and an investigation by the state Attorney
   General's Office to root out any potential criminal activity.... <snip>

   .....
   Mayor Martin Chávez should lay those questions to rest by reviewing
   the department's management for which he, ultimately, is accountable.



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