Double-Talk Dinelli in 2009: Chief Schultz "finest chief we've ever had"

Dinelli cannot be trusted because he'll do or say anything to get elected ALBUQUERQUE, NM Demonstrating that he'll do or say just about anything to get elected, Pete Dinelli conveniently criticizes APD's retiring police chief now that he's running for mayor, but just a few years ago he called him the "finest chief we've ever had." "Pete Dinelli cannot be trusted because he will say anything to get elected," said Chris Sanchez, spokesman for the Mayor Berry campaign. "Our city needs steady and responsible leadership not someone who will change positions to score political points." In 2009, then-mayoral candidate Richard Romero told reporters he would fire APD Police Chief Ray Schultz if he were mayor. When Albuquerque Journal reporter T.J. Wilham relayed those comments to Dinelli, who at the time was Chief Public Safety Officer, he said Schultz "is the finest chief we've ever had." Wilham tweeted the comments, and they were picked up by local journalists. Background: Retweet from Peter St. Cyr in 2009, who at the time was a reporter for Heath Haussamen:https://twitter.com/Peter_StCyr/status/2560860276 Picked up by local blogger Mark Bralley http://mgbralleywhatswrongwiththispicture.blogspot.com/2009_07_01_archive.html Chief Public Safety Officer Dinelli, right, came to the political defense of Chief of Police Ray Schultz when Romero said, if elected he would replace the chief. Schultz "is the finest chief we've had" reporter T.J. Wilham twittered July 9. Dinelli, who serves at the pleasure of the mayor, and had considered a run for the office when Chvez was contemplating running for the U.S. Senate, is of course entitled to his own opinion. However, Dinelli probably shouldn't be making political comments during working hours that look like official statements. ###