City seeks input on police chief hiring

Listening session to take place Saturday

Local advocates for police reform and the general public will get to pitch what they believe are the most important attributes of Albuquerque’s next police chief to a search committee put together to advise the mayor on his decision.

APD Forward, a group comprised of several organizations, is hosting a “listening session” Saturday at the Albuquerque Convention Center. Mayor Tim Keller’s office has announced that a national search for a permanent police chief is underway, and the city hired a firm called Avtec for $10,000 to consult on both the police chief and animal welfare director hires.

Interim Police Chief Michael Geier has said he’s applied for the position.

Alicia Manzano, a spokeswoman for Keller, previously said that the mayor’s office will announce several finalists and seek consideration for the permanent hire from the City Council. A decision is expected in June. Several local organizations interested in police reform said ensuring the process is thoughtful, transparent and includes community input is more important than being timely, said Steven Robert Allen, the policy director for the ACLU in New Mexico and a spokesman for APD Forward.

“It’s obviously a pivotal moment for the police department and, really, the city,” he said. “The Keller administration needs to be thoughtful to make sure they get the absolute best person for the job because it’s not going to be an easy job.”

On Saturday, APD Forward is hosting the meeting from 1 to 3 p.m. in the Picuris, Sandia and Santa Ana rooms at the Convention Center. In the first half of the meeting, APD Forward members will pitch their thoughts on the chief selection process to the selection committee. The public will get a chance to make comments in the second half of the meeting.

The city has also set up a tab on its website where the public can enter comments on the hiring process.

The selection committee members are:

Herb Crosby,

■ coordinator.

Bob Martinez, Fraternal Order of ■

Police.

James Lewis, senior adviser for ■ public safety.

Ed Perea, attorney and former ■

APD commander.

Carol Pierce, director of Family ■ and Community Services. recruitment