Schultz says act fast when cops busted

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - There is a new plan to suspend officers certification the moment they are arrested for a felony.

Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz is behind it, but the union thinks it stinks.

Next week Schultz will propose a change in policy to the Law Enforcement Academy Board where he sits as a member.

The LEA board certifies and in some cases decertifies officers throughout the state.

Former Albuquerque Police Department Officer Levi Chavez is accused of murdering his wife in 2007.  The case has dragged on for years, but the entire time Chavez has been a certified officer.

APD eventually fired Chavez but he still holds his certification with the state.

The new policy proposed by Schultz will change what happens to officers when they get into serious trouble.

His proposal said when an officer is arrested or indicted on felony charges, their certification will immediately be suspended.

That means the officer has no arresting powers and is limited to desk duty.

While the officer's certification is suspended, the process on whether to fire the officer would then begin.

"Our first reaction was one of surprise," said Ron Olivas, labor representative with the Albuquerque Police Officers Association.

He said the union did not know about the chief's proposal and said officers deserve a fair shake like any other state employee.

"Should the charges be dropped immediately or they be found not guilty, their right to due process should be intact until that time," he said.

Olivas said officers have a right to defend themselves during a hearing before their certification is suspended by the Law Enforcement Academy board.

The proposal will go before the LEA board next Thursday.  If the LEA board approves the change, it will then be up for a public hearing in mid-October in Roswell.

The union said they will be at that meeting next week.

Schultz is in Washington and unavailable to talk about his proposal when News 13 called.