ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — An Albuquerque personnel board's vote to reinstate an officer who was fired for violating orders to use his lapel camera has drawn criticism from local supporters of police reform.
The coalition APD Forward said Wednesday that it was dismayed the board would overturn a decision by Police Chief Gordon Eden to fire Officer Jeremy Dear.
Dear came under scrutiny last year when he fatally shot Mary Hawkes, a 19-year-old car thief suspect. His on-body camera was unplugged at the time.
Dear says he felt he didn't get proper camera training and experienced technical issues.
City Personnel Board chairman Lee Peifer said Tuesday following the panel's 3-2 vote to reinstate Dear that there was no evidence he used his camera more or less than other officers.
Eden called the ruling unacceptable.
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