Albuquerque Officer Fired for Not Turning On Body Camera Before Shooting

Albuquerque police officer Jeremy Dear, who fatally shot a 19-year-old woman suspected of stealing a truck in April, was fired Monday for insubordination and untruthfulness, according to Albuquerque Police Department Chief Gorden Eden.

Officer Jeremy Dear (Photo: Albuquerque PD)Officer Jeremy Dear (Photo: Albuquerque PD)

Albuquerque police officer Jeremy Dear, who fatally shot a 19-year-old woman suspected of stealing a truck in April, was fired Monday for insubordination and untruthfulness, according to Albuquerque Police Department Chief Gorden Eden.

The department has a policy requiring all officers to record every time they have contact with a citizen. Eden said in an emailed statement that Dear was under that order and didn’t comply.

Dear’s attorney, Thomas Grover, contends APD unfairly targeted Dear for violating its lapel camera policy – and that the policy is impossible for any officer to fully comply with.

“I think he made a good faith effort to use his lapel cam as much as he could,” Grover said. “If they did an audit of every field officer who has a lapel camera, I think they would find 100 percent noncompliance. It’s just not possible to use the camera all the time. You’re going to have a margin of error.”

An Albuquerque Journal review of his personnel file shows that, before the Hawkes shooting, Dear didn’t record two other use-of-force incidents nor two other citizen complaints.

Grover said Dear’s appeal, which was mailed Monday morning, alleges that the department has no evidence to support its claims.

About the Author
Page 1 of 2351
Next Page