Tell Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller Now is the Time for Police Reform

As the City of Albuquerque prepares to renegotiate the collective bargaining agreement with the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, we will have a rare opportunity to take meaningful action to address police violence in our community. That's why I'm calling on you to ensure that the new collective bargaining agreement includes critical provisions for better police accountability in Albuquerque.

In the new collective bargaining agreement with the APOA, I urge you negotiate for the three following changes:

Increase the time limit on investigations of police officers from 90 to 180 days

Section 20.1.16 of the CBA requires any administrative investigation of an officer to be completed within 90 days, subject to a possible extension of up to 30 days if approved by the Chief of Police. Both the Civilian Police Oversight Agency and the Independent Monitor overseeing APD’s consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice have singled out this provision as a serious impediment to officer accountability, resulting in many complaints expiring because the clock runs out on their investigations. In the new CBA, we should insist on a 180-day limit on administrative investigations - the standard for most other police departments around the country.
Release information about officer misconduct to Police Oversight Board

Section 20.1.10 severely limits the information that the Director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency may share about investigations into officer misconduct with the Police Oversight Board (POB), even though the Board is charged with approving the findings of the Director and any training or disciplinary recommendations to be made to the Chief of Police. “The only information released to the Police Oversight Board, will consist of the alleged charges, disposition of the case (i.e. findings of sustained/non-sustained), and any discipline imposed.” The CBA even prohibits the POB from knowing the identity of the officer, preventing them from identifying officers who are repeat offenders.
Don’t give officers unfair access to information

Although the POB is precluded from knowing the names of officers under investigation, no such courtesies are extended to complainants. Section 20.1.3 of the CBA requires that the identity of the charging officer, complainant or citizen making the charge be shared with the officer under investigation, if it is known. Complainants therefore must weigh the risks of possible retaliation before reporting misconduct. The new CBA should strike the provision giving officers unfair access to the complainants’ information.

Negotiating for the inclusion of these three provisions in the CBA will demonstrate to the people of Albuquerque that your administration takes police accountability and public safety seriously. This is a critical moment in our history, and we’re counting on you to fight for us at the negotiating table this summer.

In the new collective bargaining agreement with the APOA, I urge you negotiate for the three following changes:

Increase the time limit on investigations of police officers from 90 to 180 days

Section 20.1.16 of the CBA requires any administrative investigation of an officer to be completed within 90 days, subject to a possible extension of up to 30 days if approved by the Chief of Police. Both the Civilian Police Oversight Agency and the Independent Monitor overseeing APD’s consent decree with the U.S. Department of Justice have singled out this provision as a serious impediment to officer accountability, resulting in many complaints expiring because the clock runs out on their investigations. In the new CBA, we should insist on a 180-day limit on administrative investigations - the standard for most other police departments around the country.
Release information about officer misconduct to Police Oversight Board

Section 20.1.10 severely limits the information that the Director of the Civilian Police Oversight Agency may share about investigations into officer misconduct with the Police Oversight Board (POB), even though the Board is charged with approving the findings of the Director and any training or disciplinary recommendations to be made to the Chief of Police. “The only information released to the Police Oversight Board, will consist of the alleged charges, disposition of the case (i.e. findings of sustained/non-sustained), and any discipline imposed.” The CBA even prohibits the POB from knowing the identity of the officer, preventing them from identifying officers who are repeat offenders.
Don’t give officers unfair access to information

Although the POB is precluded from knowing the names of officers under investigation, no such courtesies are extended to complainants. Section 20.1.3 of the CBA requires that the identity of the charging officer, complainant or citizen making the charge be shared with the officer under investigation, if it is known. Complainants therefore must weigh the risks of possible retaliation before reporting misconduct. The new CBA should strike the provision giving officers unfair access to the complainants’ information.