Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller addressed concerns about transparency in the search for a new police chief after leaving a morning news conference early, following weeks of attempts to secure an interview with him about the process.”Well, I’ve been trying to get an interview with you for six weeks about the police chief search,” said KOAT Reporter John Rupolo.The mayor’s office responded to interview requests by stating, “Mayor Keller did interviews at the start of this process,” referring to an interview conducted back in December. Keller said, “So give the office a call, and we’ll sit down.””Well, I’ve been doing that for six weeks, and one is responding,” Rupolo said.Last week, Keller’s press aide, Dan Mayfield, sent out a news release stating that the mayor was interviewing seven candidates. However, the mayor’s office has not released the names of these candidates despite multiple requests.”So you will not release the names of the seven candidates you are interviewing right now?” Rupolo said. “I will not,” he said. “But it’s about transparency,” Rupolo said.”What’s important, we want to have a good process,” Keller said.Keller explained that releasing the names would be disrespectful to the candidates’ current employers. Meanwhile, Paul Guessing from the Rio Grande Foundation suggested that Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker might already have the job.”I fully expect the current interim chief has the inside track, maybe more than the inside track,” Gessing said. “I just think we need to be honest with ourselves.”When asked about the community’s belief that Barker already has the job, Keller responded, “It’s not true.”The city previously released all applications to KOAT for the position, revealing 14 candidates, including two internal ones. Keller emphasized the transparency of the process, stating, “Absolutely, we had a thousand people involved in surveys and community meetings.”
Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller addressed concerns about transparency in the search for a new police chief after leaving a morning news conference early, following weeks of attempts to secure an interview with him about the process.
“Well, I’ve been trying to get an interview with you for six weeks about the police chief search,” said KOAT Reporter John Rupolo.
The mayor’s office responded to interview requests by stating, “Mayor Keller did interviews at the start of this process,” referring to an interview conducted back in December.
Keller said, “So give the office a call, and we’ll sit down.”
“Well, I’ve been doing that for six weeks, and one is responding,” Rupolo said.
Last week, Keller’s press aide, Dan Mayfield, sent out a news release stating that the mayor was interviewing seven candidates. However, the mayor’s office has not released the names of these candidates despite multiple requests.
“So you will not release the names of the seven candidates you are interviewing right now?” Rupolo said.
“I will not,” he said.
“But it’s about transparency,” Rupolo said.
“What’s important, we want to have a good process,” Keller said.
Keller explained that releasing the names would be disrespectful to the candidates’ current employers. Meanwhile, Paul Guessing from the Rio Grande Foundation suggested that Interim Police Chief Cecily Barker might already have the job.
“I fully expect the current interim chief has the inside track, maybe more than the inside track,” Gessing said. “I just think we need to be honest with ourselves.”
When asked about the community’s belief that Barker already has the job, Keller responded, “It’s not true.”
The city previously released all applications to KOAT for the position, revealing 14 candidates, including two internal ones. Keller emphasized the transparency of the process, stating, “Absolutely, we had a thousand people involved in surveys and community meetings.”
