ABQ Journal Pete Dinelli Guest Opinion Column “Keller, Medina Have No Respect For ABQ By Supporting Gilbert Gallegos”

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On September 27, the Albuquerque Journal published the follow guest opinion column:

“Keller, Medina Have No Respect For ABQ By Supporting Gilbert Gallegos”

BY PETE DINELLI

FORMER ALBUQUERQUE CITY COUNCILOR AND FORMER CHIEF PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER FOR THE CITY

“APD Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos is back at it again using APD’s X, formerly Twitter, Account to engage in personal attacks against private citizens. He has maligned a former APD Chief, a private attorney, a former Bernalillo County Sherriff and accused a prominent businessman of being a racist, all because they have been vocal critics of APD.

The Citizens Police Oversight Agency sustained a complaint against Gallegos finding misconduct with his use of social media accounts. Mayor Tim Keller and APD Chief Harold Medina proclaim the “mean tweets” to be legitimate push back against APD critics.

The Albuquerque City Council has twice condemned the “mean tweets” and demanded they cease.

The function of PIO’s is to interreact with the press and the public and distribute accurate information to the public and the press and give interviews where necessary. APD Spokespersons historically have been sworn police officers. Gilbert Gallegos is a civilian at will employee, he is a former newspaper reporter and former spokesperson for elected officials and is essentially a political appointee.

Chief Medina and Mayor Keller refuse to put a stop to the “mean tweets” by Gallegos.

Apparently, they have no problem with “mean tweets,” by not acknowledging they violate city policy which states when replying to posts on city accounts, city employees are supposed to, “keep it professional and avoid confrontation.” When asked if the tweets followed city policy, Chief Medina said “some of them may not, but some of them bluntly point out differences. And I’m okay with that.” Mayor Keller for his part said his office “supports the department in their efforts to push back against misinformation on social media.”

Chief Medina and APD Spokesman Gilbert Gallegos have a warped misunderstanding of their role when it comes to dealing with the general public, processing citizen complaints and talking to the public in general. Their attitude as reflected by “mean tweets” is that unless you agree with APD and all of its actions, you are “anti-cop”, or you are a “cop hater.”

Chief Medina enabling a public relations attack on a private citizen because they are critical of APD is not appropriate. It is not cyberbullying as Chief Medina proclaims. Calling a businessman, who is exercising his right of free speech, a racist as Gallegos did is not keeping it professional nor is it avoiding confrontation but libelous. Making fun of a former Police Chief implying mental infirmity is offensive.

Gilbert and Chief Medina have a warped understanding of the concept of to protect and serve. They know the “mean tweets” generate extreme hostility and mistrust towards private citizens they target. We have a mayor who allows them to do it.

A citizen who has what they believe are legitimate complaints about APD does not mean APD has the right to vilify them or take issue with them and just presume that what they say is inaccurate or requiring a public push back. It does not mean APD has the right to engage in slander and violate people’s first amendment rights of free speech.

Gilbert Gallegos has no respect for the wishes of the Albuquerque City Council as he continues with his attacks on private citizens after they demanded that he stop.

Mayor Keller and Chief Medina have no respect for the city council as they continue to condone and supported the conduct of Gilbert Gallegos. The city council needs to take a vote on confidence and demand the termination of Gilbert Gallegos and go so far as defund the position if Mayor Keller fails to act.”

Pete Dinelli is a former Albuquerque city councilor, former chief public safety officer and former chief deputy district attorney. You can read his daily news and commentary blog at www.PeteDinelli.com.

The link to the Albuquerque Journal guest opinion column with photo is here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/opinion/opinion-keller-and-medina-have-no-respect-for-abq-by-supporting-gilbert-gallegos/article_927272c6-7092-11ef-a8a8-2303385a2985.html

The links to a related blog articles are  here:

City Councilor Renée Grout Introduces Resolution To Prohibit “Mean Tweets” By City Officials; Legislation In Response To APD’s Misuse Of Social Media To Attack Private Citizens; Council Needs To Vote No Confidence And Demand Removal Of Public Relations Political Hack Gilbert Gallegos

APD Press Flack Gilbert Gallegos Back At It Again Using  Social Media To Attack APD Critics; City Council Needs To Vote No Confidence, Demand Termination And Defund Position

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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.