ALBQUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller announced Thursday that Police Chief Michael Geier will retire this fall, with Deputy Chief Harold Medina taking over as acting chief next week.
Geier has served as police chief since December 2017 and Keller’s statement said Geier brought in a new leadership team, restructured the department, revamped the use of force training and policies and hired additional officers.
Keller credited Geier with “righting the ship through our first year, getting new leadership in place, focusing on gun violence and getting reform efforts on track,”
Geier was one of the first appointments Keller made when he became mayor in late 2017, and Geier served as interim chief until June 2018 when he was hired on a permanent basis.
KOB-TV reported that Geier had been “forced out,” and Shaun Willoughby, president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, told the Albuquerque Journal that the rank and file had lost confidence in the chief.
The city plans to conduct a search for a long-term replacement, according to the statement released by Keller aide Jessica Campbell.
Before becoming Albuquerque’s police chief, Geier served as Rio Rancho’s police chief after working as a Chicago-area police officer and then with the Albuquerque department.
Please read our comment policy before commenting.