THE CITY OF ALBUQUERQUE AND THE POLICE UNION ARE IN CONTRACT TALKS. UNION PRESIDENT STEPHANIE LOPEZ SAYS THEY STARTED WEDNESDAY. BUT LOPEZ SAYS THE BUDGET PROPOSAL UNVEILED BY MAYOR BERRY THAT DAY WILL DETERMINE THE OUTCOME OF THEIR CONTRACT TALKS … AND IT DOESN’T INCLUDE RAISES FOR MID-LEVEL APD OFFICERS.
LOPEZ SHE TELLS 770 KKOB IT’LL BE HARD FOR APD TO RETAIN THOSE OFFICERS. SHE SAYS THE DEPARTMENT IN THE PAST YEAR HAS SEEN SEVERAL OFFICERS WITH EIGHT TO 12 YEARS EXPERIENCE AT APD GOING TO OTHER STATES … AND SHE SAYS THEY’RE IN ADDITION TO THE NUMBER OF OFFICERS WHO ARE RETIRING. LOPEZ SAYS THEY’RE LEAVING THE STATE BECAUSE NO LAW ENFORCEMENT DEPARTMENT IN NEW MEXICO PAYS A COMPETITIVE SALARY.
