Latest news with #LawEnforcementCertificationBoard
Yahoo
27-03-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Fired police misconduct board CEO says he won't challenge his termination
The Law Enforcement Certification Board held a special meeting in Albuquerque on Feb. 21, 2025. (Photo by Austin Fisher / Source New Mexico) The fired CEO of the New Mexico office tasked with investigating police misconduct told Source NM this week he won't challenge his termination. The Law Enforcement Certification Board fired Joshua Calder on March 20, less than a year into his tenure as its first CEO and less than one month after New Mexico Department of Public Safety Secretary Jason Bowie urged the board to do so following Calder's accusation of DPS interference in police misconduct investigations. In an interview with Source NM on Wednesday, Calder said while he believes an appeals process exists for his termination, 'I'm not planning on moving forward with an appeal.' The Santa Fe New Mexican reported that Board Member Joseph Walsh, in moving to terminate Calder following a closed-door meeting, alleged that he had failed 'to keep the board apprised of lobbying and other legislative efforts affecting board operations.' Walsh has not responded to an email seeking clarification about those lobbying and legislative efforts. Calder told Source he and LECB Operations Officer Laura Escarcida met with Walsh in person to discuss Senate Bill 50, which would have made a series of reforms to New Mexico police training and clarified the relationship between the board and DPS. SB50 would have explicitly given the CEO and their staff the ability to 'function with complete independence of the department of public safety,' with their 'own budget and budget authority.' Calder said he learned about SB50 from co-drafter Rachel Feldman, the appointed citizen-at-large of the Law Enforcement Standards and Training Council and the chair of SOS Santa Fe's Civil Rights & Law Enforcement Reform Committee. 'I don't know of, other than that, any other legislative items that would have affected the Law Enforcement Certification Board,' Calder said. SB50 sponsor Sen. Antonio Maestas (D-Albuquerque) previously said the relationship between the cabinet-level state agency and the independent police misconduct board has been the subject of 'confusion' due to the department's failure to complete tasks necessary for an 'administratively attached' agency. Calder told Source NM that DPS never took the steps for the LECB to have its own budget, email system and hiring practices. 'This was all supposed to be taken care of before I took the CEO position. That was supposed to be handled by DPS, that did not occur,' he said. Lawmakers tabled the legislation on Feb. 28, after opposition from Bowie, the New Mexico State Police and the New Mexico Police Chiefs Association. The same day, the Police Chiefs Association issued a no-confidence vote against Calder and accused him of 'weaponizing' state law against Bowie, according to the Albuquerque Journal. Calder said he doesn't know how LECB moves forward without a CEO. 'The challenges that this person is going to face are going to be difficult,' he said. 'Unless they have somebody in mind already that's going to do what DPS is recommending or wants to do, then it would still be under the control of DPS, as it had been in the past, prior to the legislation that separated it.' SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
Yahoo
14-03-2025
- Climate
- Yahoo
KRQE Newsfeed: Very strong winds, Citizen complaints, Stream access case, Lobos win, Claim deadline
More speed cameras to be installed in Bernalillo County What's happening around New Mexico March 14-20 Former Golden Pride employee pleads no contest to killing coworker Protestors demonstrate outside Tesla dealership in Bernalillo NM lawmakers look to strengthen regulations on hemp products NMDOT conducting inspections on Big I bridges American Airlines Boeing 737 catches fire at Denver airport [1] Storm system with strong winds, dust and cold air moves into New Mexico – A powerful storm brings high winds through Friday evening with possible wind damage, blowing dust, and high fire danger. A line heavy snow is also possible in western New Mexico. This line of rain and snow will move east across the western half of the state and eventually into the Rio Grande Valley. Westerly winds could gust as high as 80 mph early Friday afternoon across eastern New Mexico. Up to 55 mph gusts are likely elsewhere across the state. [2] Law Enforcement Certification Board considers proposal to suspend citizen complaints – The state board that licenses police officers is weighing whether or not it will continue to accept citizen complaints. Currently, citizens can file complaints against officers to the state's Law Enforcement Certification Board. One board member spoke in favor of the change, saying the policy opens the door for anyone to file a complaint for any small gripe. Former officer and now attorney Thomas Grover says that hasn't happened while the policy has been in place. [3] NM district court rules in favor of state in stream access lawsuit – New Mexico Attorney General Raul Torrez is declaring victory in a case over public access to New Mexico's streams and waterways. In August of last year, the state filed a lawsuit against two San Miguel County landowners, accusing them of obstructing streams and having signs falsely claiming access was restricted. New Mexico's Fourth Judicial District Court ruled in favor of the state in that case. The permanent injunction from the district court prevents the landowners from building fences, putting up signs or interfering with public access to waterways in any way. [4] Lobos defeat San Jose State in MW tournament – New Mexico won its opening game of the Mountain West conference tournament against San Jose State 63-52 on Thursday afternoon. UNM got a game-high 25 points from Donovan Dent and a double-double from Nelly Junior Joseph. The Lobos move on to play Boise State with tipoff scheduled for 7:30 p.m. Friday. [5] Less than 24 hours remain for Hermits Peak Calf Canyon Fire victims to file claims – Hermit's Peak Calf Canyon Fire victims have less than 24 hours to submit their compensation claims to FEMA. Those impacted by the 2022 fire and flooding that have not yet filed a claim must submit a notice of loss by 6 p.m. Friday night. After the deadline passes, it will no longer be possible to request compensation. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
