sa国际传媒官网网页入口

sa国际传媒官网网页入口 city councilors voted 8-1 to approve a social media policy and called to eliminate the job of one of the police department鈥檚 most front-facing members.

The resolution put forth by Councilor Rene虂e Grout directs the administration to create a policy and create consequences for those who use official department social media accounts unprofessionally. The mayor鈥檚 office said it already has a policy.

鈥淭he administration already has a social media policy that鈥檚 available online for anyone to see,鈥� Staci Drangmeister, spokesperson for Mayor Tim Keller, said in a statement to the Journal following the vote Monday night.

The posts that inspired the resolution came from the sa国际传媒官网网页入口 Police Department鈥檚 X account in September, when the account feuded with local news website ABQ Raw and Douglas Peterson and Darren White, who are vocal critics of the mayor and APD.

APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos has been blamed by councilors and those on X, such as Peterson, for the social media posts. Gallegos declined to comment Tuesday.

The APD X account has come under fire in the past. In January 2023, some slammed the conduct and content of posts as bullying and intimidation.

鈥淚 have said before here on this microphone that I would not be discussing personnel and discipline matters publicly on the record,鈥� Keller鈥檚 Chief Administrative Officer Samantha Sengel said in response to councilors Monday. 鈥淪o the assumption by this council that there has been nothing done related to the matters that have been discussed is presumptuous.鈥�

But Councilor Louie Sanchez 鈥� a former APD officer 鈥� also blamed Gallegos and called for his position to be eliminated.

鈥淲e already know this is the Gilbert Gallegos bill. He鈥檚 attacked (family members of victims) on X, attorneys, citizens and business owners, and those things have been made public,鈥� Sanchez said.

Sanchez also took an opportunity to criticize APD Chief Harold Medina 鈥� something he often does at council meetings 鈥� and Keller鈥檚 administration.

鈥淭his falls on the lap of the police chief for letting this go on and on; this falls on the lap of the CAO for her failure to properly manage the police chief, and it also goes straight back to the mayor for ignoring a major problem that鈥檚 been made public,鈥� Sanchez said. 鈥淚 definitely support this bill, and I think it鈥檚 very important that each one of us here on the dais support this bill as well.鈥�

Both Sanchez and Councilor Nichole Rogers asked for Gallegos鈥檚 position to be defunded.

The city鈥檚 policy 鈥� 鈥� has a few rules, including one barring 鈥減osts or comments intended to spread false information or threaten, harass or defame others.鈥�

The policy also says 鈥渧iolations of this policy may be grounds for discipline up to and including termination.鈥�

Grout acknowledged the city鈥檚 policy but said she wants to see more clear disciplinary action.

鈥淭he city does have a social media policy, but what it doesn鈥檛 have, it doesn鈥檛 do much to address what鈥檚 appropriate to post under the city banner,鈥� Grout said. 鈥淭his resolution directs the administration to develop a policy for social media that sets expectations for appropriate behavior.鈥�

The only councilor who voted against the measure was Tammy Fiebelkorn.

鈥淭he City already has a social media policy, so a second one isn鈥檛 going to make a difference,鈥� Fiebelkorn told the Journal on Tuesday. 鈥淐ity employees follow that existing policy and treat the public with the respect they deserve, with the exception of just one employee. It seems to me that rather than passing additional policies, the administration should enforce the existing policy.鈥�

Noah Alcala Bach covers sa国际传媒官网网页入口 city government. You can reach him at nabach@abqjournal.com or (505) 823-3864.