Albuquerque –
On April 14th, 2025, the Albuquerque Police Department held a press conference about an officer involved shooting that happened in March of 2025. It was a debrief to the media to show how the incident unfolded.
Just before the press conference began APD Police Chief Harold Medina started the press conference rather quickly and then quickly he and APD Communications Director Gilbert Gallegos retreated to the back office area. As the officer involved press conference portion concluded, Chief Medina came out to break the news:
Medina mentioned we were getting bonus news and quickly stated that “The Albuquerque Police Department is in full and effective compliance,” said Chief Medina to the media.
The impromptu breaking news came because earlier the New Mexico Senate Republican Party sent a letter to U.S. Attorney General Pamela Bondi to discontinue the long going consent decree agreement between the Department of Justice and the City of Albuquerque.
“After we work through some paperwork, we wanted to notify parties, but obviously others, wanted to intervene with the Albuquerque Police Department. While they may be trying to assist us, I wish we could have let all the community groups know beforehand that this was occurring. And I think it’s important for community relations. But there’s a few things that really upset me is a lot of, these individuals,” said Chief Medina
In the letter from Republican New Mexico Senator Sharer to AG Bondi an excerpt states:
Total costs related to the Consent Decree are estimated to exceed $40 million, of which one “independent monitor” has received $12 million in fees as of 2024. An estimated 50-60 police officers are assigned to review body camera footage and investigate other police officers, while only ten or fifteen officers are assigned to investigate the record-breaking number of homicides taking place annually in Albuquerque.
Chief Medina shot back at Senator Sharer’s letter saying that the Senator has not done a ride along with his department. Chief Medina even went into third person mode when he accused Senator Sharer of being out of touch.
“These individuals, (Sic) Senator from Farmington has never spoken to the help. The chief of the Albuquerque Police Department has never come, had a right along with our officers, and does not recognize that our officers deserve the credit, the credit for coming into full compliance,” said Chief Medina.
He went on to say, “My officers bust their ass each and every day“
“While the Governor is deploying the National Guard to assist APD with directing traffic, we are proposing a way to free up countless law enforcement officers to make a real impact on the streets of Albuquerque. The bottom line is: we need more officers investigating homicides and less officers investigating other police officers for doing their job,” said GOP State Senator Bill Sharer of Farmington in a statement.
APD Chief Medina cited the letter as being politically motivated.
“Stop trying to make Albuquerque a scapegoat and a political argument for all the politicians across the state of New Mexico. My officers bust their ass each and every day. They take more people to jail. Then all the other entities in Bernalillo County combined pull the statistics. So to my officers, thank you for the hard work you’ve created,” said Chief Medina.
We asked Chief Medina if this meant that the rumored 60 or 70 sworn officers who worked on DOJ compliance would be released back to the streets to help take calls for service. Medina then referred to Major Dodi Camacho who said there were only 4 or 5 people in IA.
APD Chief Medina ended the press conference telling the media and the public to quote proper stats while he haphazardly tapped the podium in frustration.
“If you’re going to quote my department get the statistics right. Thank you,” said Chief Medina.
The Albuquerque Police Department has been under the Department of Justice decent decree since 2014. It was after public out cry for DOJ to step in after an aggressive homeless man was shot and killed by APD during a stand off at the base of the Sandia Mountains.
IT SOUNDS LIKE MEDINA IS DISPLEASED WITH THE SENATOR TAKING THE BULL BY THE HORNS AND TRYING TO PUT A STOP TO THIS DESSENT DECREE. MAYBE HAROLD CAN CONVINCE SOME OF THE RETIREES TO STAY ON A LITTLE LONGER, YOU KNOW PUT THAT 12 MIL TO GOOD USE. IT’S PROBABLY NOT ENOUGH TO GET TIMMY REELECTED, BUT HECK THE GOV’S SENDING IN THE NATIONAL GUARD. MAYBE TIMMY SHOULD ASK FOR SOME MORE FBI AGENTS, BETTER THAN THE NATIONAL GUARD.
Medina it is. or your department and I DO NOT nor will I ever work for you, I work for the citizens. Maybe that’s why morale is in the shitter. Remember your SWAT days, that’s one reason why DOJ was here.
Anyone but Keller 2025
I’m new to all this. Please explain to me how you would like to see this city run differently. Can you give me examples? ty
Medina is a buffoon. His Dept is a joke and he is an excuse for a Police Chief. Maybe he should go get a GED because his knowledge is pitiful.
I remember 82’ing harold in the sw, I walked up to the car and he was pointing a rifle at the driver, just to find out he was using the flashlight to see in the vehicle, flagging the driver and passenger. When I asked about it, he said that’s how the field does it…
“An estimated 50-60 police officers are assigned to review body camera footage and investigate other police officers”
Hard to believe it’s gotten so pathetic. A bureaucratic nightmare of “watchers watching the watchers” and hardly anyone left to get actual work done. And they can barely do that, because their hands are tied. Everyone’s hands are tied. You wanna solve the problem? Bring back bounties, deputize members of the public, and reduce the emphasis on SJW nonsense. Stop prosecuting those who work to solve the problem. Albuquerque could be a paradise, if you are willing to make the hard decisions. Until then, why fight to protect this status quo? Why bother participating? Enjoy your cesspool.
You seriously believe 60 officers were assigned exclusively to review body cam footage? Medina is quoted saying it’s more like 5. Give me a fucking break.
Why is officers directly involved in the Boyd shooting have jobs at apd they are buried behind others, out of sight, apd taking care of their hero’s with huge bi-weekly checks exactly what is Sandy jr. Doing? Guess doesn’t matter he makes bank and has an unmarked take home car. Other officers, never in trouble will never have a shot at that lux job ain’t that right medical. Just like Ray Ray take care of your peeps let’s not keep them accountable
Don’t forget the DWI Sgt from the 90s, and who was online tv denying he worked for taser, come on now, it all makes sense. FBI has to put it together
Could this be the beginning of the end for these turds? Could we get our city back? Wait and see, true believers. The plot sickens. Also, what about Naomi?
APOA haven’t you endorsed Keller already? You should it’s his dept and you work for him I guess he does have that right. HIS officers could be right since he doesn’t spend anytime at the dry cleaners.
What an ungrateful putz. The Senator asking up the chain of government for release from the miserable consent decree and the Chief complains about it? I thought they wanted to get out of monitored status? Were they just using that as a crutch for their many years of failure under this Mayor and Chief? Voting for the same gets us the same level of crime with an underfunded and mis-managed police department. I can’t even run a vending machine business in this city with ONE machine due to the crime hits I take on my water vending machine. Someone was trying to break into the back section of it to get the $3 of copper wiring at 5AM this morning – but never any cops around to deter crime, not in years in this miserable city.