Pat “The Artful Dodger” Davis

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www.koat.com/article/video-questions-raised-after-city-hires-independent-investigator-for-apd-lapel-video/8361714

Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis has perfected the art of “dodge and deflection” and it was in full view for all to see in a KOAT TV interview.

City Councilor Pat Davis is supposed to be an ex cop and at one time was the spokesperson for the DA’s office. Davis apparently thinks what happened with the allegations made by a former APD records custodian of altering and tampering with evidence does not constitute criminal conduct. The City Councilor apparently does not understand the concept nor meaning of “conflict of interest” nor “appearance of conflict of interest”.

City Councilor Pat Davis says he has confidence in the process of selecting an outside investigator. He also says “who we hire will be transparent; their work product will be transparent for all to see”. Sorry Pat, transparency does not negate a conflict of interest nor an appearance of a conflict of interest. I noticed Pat’s use of the word “we”, when the Council will not have any part in the selection process nor a say in the final work product.

Davis calling for an outside private investigation paid by the City just doesn’t cut it, not when it comes to conduct that just may be found to be criminal. Davis should be calling for an independent law enforcement agency, like the FBI or State Police, to investigate the allegations. Davis also conveniently forgets APD is working under a Federal Consent decree and the Department of Justice should be ask to look into the allegations.

The City Attorney will be selecting and hiring the investigator behind closed doors and the City Council will not have any say who will be hired. The allegations made by the former records custodian include that high ranking members of APD command staff and the City Attorney’s office ordered the withholding or altering and tampering of video evidence. There is a clear conflict with the City doing its own investigation or hiring someone who they want to do the investigation. If the City does not like what is found, it can simply say do it again.

Davis has really perfected his skills of deflecting answering reporters’ questions and making hard decisions. When a KOAT TV reporter tried to point out the fact that it is a conflict of interest when the City Attorney’s office will be selecting the private investigator, Davis ignores it and moves on to discuss transparency.

Not surprising, Davis also deflected in front of an audience of his own constituents the City’s decision not to put the ART bus project on the ballot saying there was nothing he could do to stop the project because of past City Council votes when he knew the City Council still could put it to a public vote.

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About

Pete Dinelli was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He is of Italian and Hispanic descent. He is a 1970 graduate of Del Norte High School, a 1974 graduate of Eastern New Mexico University with a Bachelor's Degree in Business Administration and a 1977 graduate of St. Mary's School of Law, San Antonio, Texas. Pete has a 40 year history of community involvement and service as an elected and appointed official and as a practicing attorney in Albuquerque. Pete and his wife Betty Case Dinelli have been married since 1984 and they have two adult sons, Mark, who is an attorney and George, who is an Emergency Medical Technician (EMT). Pete has been a licensed New Mexico attorney since 1978. Pete has over 27 years of municipal and state government service. Pete’s service to Albuquerque has been extensive. He has been an elected Albuquerque City Councilor, serving as Vice President. He has served as a Worker’s Compensation Judge with Statewide jurisdiction. Pete has been a prosecutor for 15 years and has served as a Bernalillo County Chief Deputy District Attorney, as an Assistant Attorney General and Assistant District Attorney and as a Deputy City Attorney. For eight years, Pete was employed with the City of Albuquerque both as a Deputy City Attorney and Chief Public Safety Officer overseeing the city departments of police, fire, 911 emergency call center and the emergency operations center. While with the City of Albuquerque Legal Department, Pete served as Director of the Safe City Strike Force and Interim Director of the 911 Emergency Operations Center. Pete’s community involvement includes being a past President of the Albuquerque Kiwanis Club, past President of the Our Lady of Fatima School Board, and Board of Directors of the Albuquerque Museum Foundation.