Coalition intends to hold all parties accountable to DOJ consent decree
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 13, 2018
CONTACT: Micah McCoy, (505) 266-5915 x1003 or [email protected]
ALBUQUERQUE, NM--Today, the City of Albuquerque announced that it had selected Mike Geier as Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department. Chief Geier was selected after serving as interim Chief of Police since December 2017. According to the City, Geier was selected from a pool of 30 applicants from across the country. APD Forward advocated for the City to conduct a thorough, deliberate national search and to hire a Chief committed to the reforms outlined in the Department of Justice consent decree.
“Selecting a new police chief is one of the most important decisions this administration will make, and this process was not what we expected. We are ready to work with Chief Geier, however, in his new position as Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department,” said APD Forward spokesperson Nancy Koenigsberg, Senior Attorney with Disability Rights New Mexico. “Chief Geier has publicly committed to complying with the reforms outlined in the Department of Justice consent decree, and we intend to hold APD and all of the parties accountable to the reform process. We call on Chief Geier to implement critical cultural change, including addressing biased policing, promoting transparency, embracing civilian oversight, and creating a culture of accountability.”
APD Forward is a coalition of 18 community groups and family members of police shooting victims that is committed to holding the City and APD leadership accountable to the DOJ mandated reforms. To guide the new mayor in selecting a capable chief, APD Forward consulted experts from around the country about the most important qualifications for a police chief who is charged with reforming use of force practices in his or her department. The criteria fall generally into four categories:
- Commitment to Department of Justice Reforms
- Transparency and Accountability
- 21st Century Policing Tactics and Policies
- Addressing Biased Policing
To learn more, and to read the entire list of APD Forward Police Chief Criteria, please visit the APD Forward website at: www.apdforward.org/resources.
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