In a video shared on the Albuquerque Police Department Facebook page nearly a year ago, the closeness (and kiss-uppi-ness) between the Albuquerque police department head and Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller is clear. The mayor’s puppet, Chief Harold Medina, clearly states he wouldn’t be Chief without the mayor who has, apparently, backed his every bad move. Medina fanboys on his boss and mayor.
Take a peep at this video embedded below, or click here to watch or share on Youtube.
Mayor Keller’s response to the accident Chief Medina caused when he floored his truck while it was stopped at a stoplight, was to act as if Medina was a victim of the car accident he caused, “… Fortunately, in this case, I quickly learned [Medina] was OK,” Keller stated in the news conference that followed the incident. Keller never addressed the incident as if Medina were a sworn officer of APD and must comply with the rules of the department he directs. Keller ignored potential violations of Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), did not talk about an investigation and ignored the damage Medina caused and that will continue to be caused when Medina critically-injured the Mustang driver when recovers or even worse, succumbs to his injuries.
It will be a miracle if APD doesn’t face a hefty lawsuit from the injured driver. If any beat cop were to floor it at a stoplight while But don’t worry, Medina will continue to show kiss-uppi-ness to Mayor Keller, his boss, and hopes to have his backing the entire time. Journalists and public interest news groups have shared SOPs that Medina likely broke, we did additional digging and came up with more. Links to the SOP documents are also embedded below and can be scrolled through.
SOP regarding emergency vehicle response in regard to right of way:
APD SOP: 2-6-4 Use of Emergency Warning Equipment
A. Authority for Code Response: 1. When sworn personnel respond to an emergency call, or when in pursuit of an individual who has violated or is suspected of violating a law, sworn personnel shall be authorized to exercise the right-of-way privilege, pursuant to the New Mexico state statute on authorized emergency vehicles, if the officer is driving an authorized emergency vehicle and properly using authorized emergency warning equipment.
a. This authority does not:
i. Relieve the officer who is driving an authorized emergency vehicle from the duty to drive with due regard for the safety of others; or
ii. Protect the officer from the consequences of reckless disregard for the safety of others.
Layman’s terms: Don’t be stupid or reckless if you’re driving because your actions will follow you.
APD SOP: 1-12 Volunteer and Internship Program
Layman’s terms: Lengthy SOP (document below) shows the onboarding process and requirements for ride-alongs, which is what Chief Medina’s wife was doing if he was scouting for “encampments” before a press conferences, as is alleged by Medina.
APD SOP: 2-8 Use of On-Body Recording Devices
2-8-5: Examples of mandatory recording events include, but are not limited to:
1. Law enforcement encounters;
2. Traffic crashes;
Layman’s terms: Since Chief Medina was on duty, searching for homeless “encampments,” he should have started his camera as soon as the traffic crash occurred, maybe even as soon as the alleged shots were fired.
Full SOPs viewable below:
Political Fireball 