Critics of Police Oversight Commission silenced

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - Albuquerque police have come under a lot of scrutiny lately, so you could see why there’d be some upset people when it surfaced that a group charged with policing the police is headed by a woman who is quite friendly with APD.

On Thursday critics took their complaints to the City Council but Police Oversight Commission Chair Linda Martinez had one of those critics kicked out of the meeting.

Moments earlier commissioners, who are named by the City Council and the Mayor, decided to allow Martinez to stay on the board even though it was revealed last month that she is also part of the Fraternal Order of Police - a group that opposes the Police Oversight Commission.

Andres Valdez with the Government Watchdog group, Vecinos United, started talking about Martinez’s position during public comment. 

“Today NM Vecinos has filed complaints with the office of Internal Audit 13 against Police Oversight Commissioner Linda Martinez,” Valdez said.

This comment did not sit well with Commissioner Richard Shine.

“This matter has been discussed by the commission and resolved by this commission and I would suggest that the witness is out of order,” Shine says.

Cops then escorted Valdez out and Shine addressed everyone at the meeting.

”You do not have an unlimited right to say anything you want and speak about anything you want during public comment,” Shine says.

Commissioner Jonathon Siegal then steps in saying “That should not deprive citizens of the ability to complain about our decisions, speak to us about why they think it wasn’t right,” Siegal says.

On Monday City Councilor Dan Lewis says, hindsight in this day and age, the Commission probably should have let Valdez speak.

“These area all volunteer commissioners who serve on the POC and they are not always used to being able to handle some of the public comments,” Lewis says.

The ACLU is looking into whether Valdez’s rights were violated.