Video above: A “No Confidence” vote to determine if Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina’s leadership has been effective since he took office is set for Wednesday, April 3. Albuquerque city councilors are expected to vote on the resolution at tonight’s city council meeting. Related: Three Albuquerque City Councilors demand answers from APD Chief Harold MedinaThe declaration of ‘No Confidence’ in Police Chief Harold Medina was proposed by City Councilor, Louie Sanchez. View, here.APD Chief Harold Medina plans to be in attendance for the meeting. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the department sent KOAT the following statement, “Chief Medina will be at the meeting and looks forward to highlighting accurate information about crime-fighting and the positive direction of the department.” “It’s important for the citizens of Albuquerque to make sure that they trust their police department,” Sanchez told KOAT. Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News”It’s important that every city councilor understands that this vote could be a historic vote when it comes to voting for the betterment of our community. Our community needs this,” Sanchez said,Faith Egbuonu: Why are you calling for this resolution?Louie Sanchez: When I first asked for a vote of no confidence, it was based on the fact that there were numerous other failures that I laid out in the resolution. All of those failures. Plus, after the reason why we did the rest, the reason why the resolution was submitted is because of the numerous failures in the leadership— immediately at APD . We’ve had numerous issues with all of the things that I laid out in the resolution. There are numerous failures that are laid out in the resolution. Those failures also tied to the DWI investigation.MORE: Albuquerque police officers’ homes raided in FBI investigationIt unravels a bit more. And then he has his accident. And based on the accident, we’re seeing a ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ type attitude from the police department. One, this investigation should have been handled by someone else other than his own police IA It should be handled by someone else who can give us a transparent look at this. So, when you get right down to the nitty-gritty, it’s all about transparency. Related: Investigation into crash involving Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina Faith Egbuonu: So, you feel there has been a lack of accountability and transparency with the department? Louie Sanchez: There has been a huge amount of lack of transparency within our department. And if you decide to take a look at the resolution, you’ll see those failures and also the ones that have been front and center like the DWI corruption scandal.Related: Victim of crash involving Albuquerque police chief demands accountability Faith Egbuonu: How does this process work? What’s next if you all decide on this unanimously?Louie Sanchez: With the vote of no confidence that is a direct message to the mayor to let him know that the councilors want to see change.Faith Egbuonu: It wouldn’t necessarily mean he has to step down. Correct?Louie Sanchez: That would be up to the mayor. The mayor hired him for that.Albuquerque Police DepartmentKOAT reached out to Albuquerque police for an interview with Chief Medina. A spokesperson for the department replied, “Sorry, Chief Medina is busy doing citywide briefings with officers.”Mayor Tim KellerKOAT reached out to Mayor Tim Keller’s office for an interview. A spokesperson for his office told KOAT he’s unavailable because he’s out of town. A statement was provided below: “For the first time in a decade, most crime stats are trending in the right direction thanks to Chief Medina’s leadership. The department is on track to get out from under the CASA, detectives are solving more homicides to hold violent criminals accountable, and more officers are out patrolling our streets.” — Ava MontoyaWe reached out to Albuquerque city councilors, but calls were not returned at the time our story aired on April 2, 2024, except for the following: City councilor Dan Champine: Unable to commentCity Councilor Brook Bassan: Unable to commentCity Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn: A spokesperson for Fiebelkorn’s office returned our call on Wednesday, April 3 to set an interview.
Video above: A “No Confidence” vote to determine if Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina’s leadership has been effective since he took office is set for Wednesday, April 3.
Albuquerque city councilors are expected to vote on the resolution at tonight’s city council meeting.
Related: Three Albuquerque City Councilors demand answers from APD Chief Harold Medina
The declaration of ‘No Confidence’ in Police Chief Harold Medina was proposed by City Councilor, Louie Sanchez. View, here.
APD Chief Harold Medina plans to be in attendance for the meeting. Earlier this week, a spokesperson for the department sent KOAT the following statement, “Chief Medina will be at the meeting and looks forward to highlighting accurate information about crime-fighting and the positive direction of the department.”
“It’s important for the citizens of Albuquerque to make sure that they trust their police department,” Sanchez told KOAT.
Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News
“It’s important that every city councilor understands that this vote could be a historic vote when it comes to voting for the betterment of our community. Our community needs this,” Sanchez said,
Faith Egbuonu: Why are you calling for this resolution?
Louie Sanchez: When I first asked for a vote of no confidence, it was based on the fact that there were numerous other failures that I laid out in the resolution. All of those failures. Plus, after the reason why we did the rest, the reason why the resolution was submitted is because of the numerous failures in the leadership— immediately at APD [Albuquerque Police Department]. We’ve had numerous issues with all of the things that I laid out in the resolution. There are numerous failures that are laid out in the resolution. Those failures also tied to the DWI investigation.
MORE: Albuquerque police officers’ homes raided in FBI investigation
It unravels a bit more. And then he has his accident. And based on the accident, we’re seeing a ‘Do as I say, not as I do’ type attitude from the police department. One, this investigation should have been handled by someone else other than his own police IA [Internal Affairs] It should be handled by someone else who can give us a transparent look at this. So, when you get right down to the nitty-gritty, it’s all about transparency.
Related: Investigation into crash involving Albuquerque police chief Harold Medina
Faith Egbuonu: So, you feel there has been a lack of accountability and transparency with the department?
Louie Sanchez: There has been a huge amount of lack of transparency within our department. And if you decide to take a look at the resolution, you’ll see those failures and also the ones that have been front and center like the DWI corruption scandal.
Related: Victim of crash involving Albuquerque police chief demands accountability
Faith Egbuonu: How does this process work? What’s next if you all decide on this unanimously?
Louie Sanchez: With the vote of no confidence that is a direct message to the mayor [Tim Keller] to let him know that the councilors want to see change.
Faith Egbuonu: It wouldn’t necessarily mean he has to step down. Correct?
Louie Sanchez: That would be up to the mayor. The mayor hired him for that.
Albuquerque Police Department
KOAT reached out to Albuquerque police for an interview with Chief Medina. A spokesperson for the department replied, “Sorry, Chief Medina is busy doing citywide briefings with officers.”
Mayor Tim Keller
KOAT reached out to Mayor Tim Keller’s office for an interview. A spokesperson for his office told KOAT he’s unavailable because he’s out of town. A statement was provided below:
“For the first time in a decade, most crime stats are trending in the right direction thanks to Chief Medina’s leadership. The department is on track to get out from under the CASA, detectives are solving more homicides to hold violent criminals accountable, and more officers are out patrolling our streets.” — Ava Montoya
We reached out to Albuquerque city councilors, but calls were not returned at the time our story aired on April 2, 2024, except for the following:
- City councilor Dan Champine: Unable to comment
- City Councilor Brook Bassan: Unable to comment
- City Councilor Tammy Fiebelkorn: A spokesperson for Fiebelkorn’s office returned our call on Wednesday, April 3 to set an interview.
