ALBUQUERQUE MAYOR BERRY SAYS THE PUBLIC WILL HAVE SOME "SAY" IN WHO BECOMES THE CITY'S NEXT POLICE CHIEF. HE SAYS THE COMPANY TO BE HIRED TO HELP SEARCH FOR A POLICE CHIEF WILL HOLD PUBLIC HEARINGS. COUNCILOR ISAAC BENTON LAST (MON) NIGHT CALLED FOR THE COUNCIL TO PLAY A STRONGER ROLE IN CHOOSING THE NEW TOP COP. BERRY SAYS IT'S THE MAYOR'S JOB TO MAKE THAT CHOICE. COUNCILOR C BENTON IS ONE OF SEVERAL COUNCILORS WHO RECENTLY CALLED FOR SCHULTZ TO STEP DOWN AS POLICE CHIEF.

BERRY TELLS 770 KKOB THE COUNCIL'S ROLE IS WITH THE POLICE OVERSIGHT COMMISSION ... AND IT'S IMPORTANT. BUT HE TELLS US COUNCILORS ARE SLOW ON THE DRAW WHEN IT COMES TO MAKING AND ADDRESSING RECOMMENDATIONS THROUGH THE COMMISSION. BERRY ALSO SAYS COUNCILORS HAVE YET TO ADDRESS 17 COMMISSION REFORM RECOMMENDATIONS HE SENT DOWN OVER A YEAR AGO.

SOME ALBUQUERQUE RESIDENTS THINK APD CHIEF RAY SCHULTZ IS GETTING OFF EASY. THEY SHOWED UP FOR MONDAY NIGHT'S CITY COUNCIL MEETING, EXPRESSING CONCERN THAT SCHULTZ GETS TO RESIGN, DESPITE THE PROBLEMS AT APD THAT LED TO THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATING INTO OFFICER-INVOLVED SHOOTINGS AND ALLEGED USE OF EXCESSIVE FORCE. SOME WHO SPOKE AT THE MEETING MONDAY WERE CLEARLY ANGRY.

MAYOR BERRY SAYS SCHULTZ WILL STAY ON THE JOB UNTIL THIS SUMMER TO ENSURE THAT THE DOJ COLLECTS ALL THE DATA NEEDED FOR ITS INVESTIGATION BEFORE HE LEAVES OFFICE.