ALAMOSA — On Jan. 3, the city council of Alamosa officially wrapped up their two-month long investigation into concerns raised by former Alamosa Police Department Chief of Police Ken Anderson at the time of his resignation.

Anderson’s concerns ranged from management issues pertaining to the city manager to disagreement with what he perceived as a negative impact on the Alamosa Police Department caused by programs and services initiated by the city related to the homeless population.

As part of the investigative process decided upon when Anderson resigned, the city council would hold two executive sessions with department heads regarding the city manager plus work sessions on other concerns that Anderson raised.

Information obtained during executive session was not — and could not — be shared nor summarized with the public. Information about Anderson’s other concerns were shared with the public in a work session held following the regularly scheduled council meeting. Heather Sanchez, Alamosa’s city manager, presented the bulk of what was learned in a meeting.

According to the agenda, the work session was followed by an executive session was held “pursuant to C.R.S. § 24-6-402(4)(f) to continue discussion of management concerns raised by Police Chief who resigned citing such concerns.”

As part of its reporting on the work session, the Valley Courier sent a handful of questions to each of the council members with, unfortunately, a short turnaround. Only two council members responded — Councilor Liz Hensley responded promptly. Mayor Ty Coleman responded as well but was delayed by a day due to illness.

In his email, Mayor Coleman said he felt that the Valley Courier coverage of the work session had omitted some information that he stated was important to the public to know. The Valley Courier then asked for an interview with the mayor to address what he felt should have been included.

Coleman graciously responded that, due to the work session not being recorded, the city had posted information on their website. “Since Council and staff are in agreement with the above information being shared with the public, I don’t have any additional information to add at this time.”

What follows is the information Mayor Coleman highlighted from the website:

• City Council held a work session to address the remaining concerns raised by exiting Chief Anderson. Partners from SLV Housing Coalition, SLV Behavioral Health, and La Puente were in attendance in addition to the City Attorney, Interim Police Chief, and City Manager to present information. Key points included:
• Airport Road Housing update from the SLV Housing Coalition:

New name for development: Horizon Heights

• Housing Eligibility:

Housing will show preference for: Veterans, youth transitioning out out of foster care, disabled, single parents, housing voucher holders, those working with partner agencies like Tu Casa.

• Housing will not allow: Those with a criminal background of sex offense, drug manufacturing or distribution, murder, attempted murder, or a chronic violent criminal history. Any applicant with a criminal background in the last 5 years of felony drug charges and felony charges that include injury to a person or property will not be allowed at Horizon Heights.
• Rent: All tenants will be required to pay rent. Rent will likely be in the $400 and $550 per month range.
• Leases and Eviction: SLVHC will use 6-month leases to make sure tenants stay on track. If a tenant becomes disruptive/does not follow rules, evictions can be completed in less than 6 months.
• To Answer Misconceptions: This housing is not for criminals, Rent is required, and the new housing is not for those at the homeless encampment, St. Benedict. Horizon Heights is for those needing to establish a good rental history who, for a single-person household, make $48,720 a year or less.
• Homeless update from La Puente and City Staff:
• Provided new demographic data that City Co-Responders helped collect showing survey answers to common questions like “Were you homeless when you came to the valley?” and “Have you lived in the valley for at least 3 years?”
• Discussed the need for St. Benedict: it is not designed to solve homelessness but is designed to keep homeless from camping anywhere else in the city. The City cannot enforce camping bans in parks, on public roads/alleys, and along the river unless there is a legal place to camp in the city.
• City Council unanimously decided to continue forward with efforts to move the soup kitchen off of State Street and construct an emergency weather shelter.

• A new webpage dedicated to homelessness will be added to the City’s website in order to provide information in the near future.
• Allegations made by former Chief Anderson concerning City Manager and City Attorney:
• Claims of City Manager micromanagement: Chief Anderson alleged that the City Manager did not allow him to make decisions about discipline/promotions at APD. The City Manager clarified that the only time she was involved in the promotion/discipline process was when a serious lawsuit was filed against the APD alleging American with Disabilities Act (ADA), Racial Harassment, Hostile Work Environment, and Retaliation. The City Manager and Interim Chief Spangler stressed that this lawsuit required City Hall to be more involved during this limited time in order to protect APD and the City from further legal action.
• Claims that the City Manager denied APD funding and staffing requests: The City Manager and Interim Chief provided an update on both capital and personnel needs that were not included in Chief Anderson’s 2024 Budget request. Council approved modifying the budget by $175,072 for the needed equipment and $90,070 for an additional Sergeant position when the budget allows.
• Claims that the City Attorney dismisses charges without cause: Staff explained the change of laws and expectations regarding use of force and the two excessive force lawsuits against APD that influenced the City Attorney’s decision-making.

Additionally, staff discussed the need to have the City's resisting/obstructing arrest language mirror the State's language. Now that the City Prosecutor can talk to officers, he will be able to have a better understanding of the charges and can discuss if changes are needed.  Additionally, the City Prosecutor and Interim Chief agree that continued meetings will improve and strengthen the interaction between APD and Municipal Court.