The Sergeant had just finished expressing concerns about the process for voting for the new APOA contract when he was advised that he is being investigated.

Sergeant Paul Heh of the Albuquerque Police Department spoke to the council about concerns he and other senior officers had regarding the Police contract and the process that was followed that led to its approval. As Sergeant Heh prepared to leave the council meeting, he was told that an Internal Affairs Investigation against him had been initiated. “I find that coincidence alarming,” said Councilor Winter. “With all we are hearing from the Department [APD] about intimidation and retaliation, I just hope this is not what the investigation is about. We want to be sure City employees, including police officers feel free to express their concerns before council without retaliation” he said. The council has received numerous calls from employees, many of whom wish to remain anonymous because of that fear. “It is common knowledge that employee morale is at an all time low,” says President Winter. “ APD is experiencing significant internal infighting about the contract that is currently before the Council. Junior officers are pitted against senior officers. This is not good for the Department and it is definitely not good for the citizens of Albuquerque,” stated Councilor Winter.

Also at Monday night’s council meeting transit workers told the council that they had “been fired improperly for union activity and believe that the City is trying to intimidate workers into sticking with their current union rather than joining a new one” (as reported in the Albuquerque Journal). Several speakers opined that the existing transit union is too closely aligned with the current mayor’s administration.

“As we begin the budget process, the Council not only has to make some difficult decisions, but we now have to figure out a way to create a more cohesive government by resolving those issues that are dividing City staff,” said Winter. Councilor Winter pledges to work together with the entire City Council to assure that these issues and concerns are resolved.