Original Article Posted on Wed, Mar. 30, 2005 Albuquerque police chief resigns PETER BARNES Associated Press ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. - The police chief resigned abruptly Wednesday amid a scandal involving his department's alleged mishandling of evidence. Chief Gilbert Gallegos had been under increasing fire over possible long-standing problems in the department's evidence room. Last year an anonymous e-mail was sent to law enforcement officials claiming that weapons, drugs and jewelry were missing from the room. That e-mail helped prompt an attorney general's investigation, launched at Gallegos' request. Gallegos said he will offer any information he may have to investigators. Sam Thompson, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, said Gallegos' resignation would have no effect on the investigation. "This was the chief's decision ... I think he made the right decision," Albuquerque Mayor Martin Chavez said. "The chief has put his department's welfare ahead of his own." Gallegos' resignation letter did not give a precise reason for his departure, saying only that he does "not want to hinder the future success of this department." At a news conference, Gallegos, 61, said it was time to go. "I've been at it 40 years, and that's a long time," he said. Chavez said he hopes to replace Gallegos, who took over as chief in December 2001, by the end of the week. Recently, a former Albuquerque police lieutenant said he and his officers brought allegations of theft in the department's evidence room to Gallegos but that the chief waited two months to begin an internal criminal investigation and seven months to call in the attorney general. This week, three citizens filed formal ethics complaints against Gallegos for his handling of the alleged problems. http://www.abqjournal.com/news/breaking/3018917name03-30-05.htm Wednesday, March 30, 2005 Albuquerque Police Chief Resigns Amid Evidence Scandal Peter Barnes The Associated Press The city's police chief resigned abruptly Wednesday amid a scandal involving his department's alleged mishandling of evidence. Mayor Martin Chavez said at a news conference that he accepted the resignation of Chief Gilbert Gallegos, which is effective immediately. "This was the chief's decision ... I think he made the right decision,'' Chavez said. "The chief has put his department's welfare ahead of his own.'' Gallegos, in a separate news conference at the police station about an hour later, said it was time to go. "I've been at it 40 years, and that's a long time,'' he said. Gallegos said he plans to ride his motorcycle and "just enjoy life.'' Chavez said he hopes to replace Gallegos, who took over as chief in December 2001, by the end of the week. In a letter dated Wednesday, Gallegos did not give a precise reason for his sudden departure, saying only that he does "not want to hinder the future success of this department.'' "I believe in this department and my position of chief should not detract from the mission the security and safety of all who live here,'' the letter said. Police Department spokesman Jeff Arbogast said officers were surprised and upset by the chief's move. "We're very, very unhappy,'' Arbogast said. In recent days, Gallegos has come under increasing fire for his handling of possible long-standing problems in the department's evidence room. Gallegos said he will offer any information he may have "to any investigation.'' Last year an anonymous e-mail was sent to law enforcement officials claiming that weapons, drugs and jewelry were missing from the evidence room. That e-mail helped prompt an attorney general's investigation, launched at Gallegos' request. Sam Thompson, a spokeswoman for the attorney general's office, said Gallegos' resignation would have no effect on the investigation. The investigator has completed the first draft of his report, which is being reviewed by attorneys "who may have some more questions for him about it,'' Thompson said. She said it's difficult to say how long it will take for a final report to be made public. Three federal lawsuits have been filed in addition to the attorney general's investigation. Recently, a former Albuquerque police lieutenant said he and his officers brought allegations of theft in the department's evidence room to Gallegos but that the chief waited two months to begin an internal criminal investigation and seven months to call in the attorney general. On Monday, Arbogast issued a statement on Gallegos' behalf. The statement said that concerns listed in various memos have been or are being addressed. Also this week, three citizens filed formal ethics complaints against Gallegos for his handling of the alleged problems in the evidence room. http://www.krqe.com/expanded.asp?ID=9272 Retired cop points finger at Chief Gallegos Source: AP ALBUQUERQUE -- A retired Albuquerque police lieutenant says Chief Gilbert Gallegos waited two months to begin an internal investigation after the lieutenant and others alleged problems in the evidence room. And former Lieutenant Kyle Baxter says it was seven months before Gallegos called in the attorney general. He says he doesn't know why Gallegos didn't act sooner. A spokesman for the department has issued a statement on Gallegos' behalf. It says memos from officers in the department are being addressed as part of an investigation ordered by the chief. The statement says some of the issues are part of a criminal investigation. It says those findings will be included in a future final report.