ALBUQUERQUE’S POLICE CHIEF IS RETIRING AT THE END OF THIS MONTH. CHIEF GORDEN EDEN MADE THE ANNOUNCEMENT SATURDAY. HE’S BEEN ON THE JOB NEARLY FOUR YEARS … AND IT HASN’T BEEN EASY.
IT STARTED WITH THE POLICE SHOOTING OF HOMELESS CAMPER JAMES BOYD IN THE FOOTHILLS THAT PUT ALBUQUERQUE IN THE SPOTLIGHT. EDEN SAID THE SHOOTING WAS JUSTIFIED BUT THE TWO OFFICER WHO SHOT JAMES BOYD WERE PUT ON TRIAL FOR 2ND DEGREE MURDER. THEY WERE NOT CONVICTED.
EDEN IS LEAVING APD AS IT COPES WITH ONE OF THE CITY’S WORST CRIME EPIDEMICS. HIS TIME AS POLICE CHIEF ALSO OCCURRED WHEN THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT INVESTIGATED APD FOR A PATTERN OF USING EXCESSIVE FORCE.
