THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, August 5, 1995 TAG: 9508050261
SECTION: LOCAL PAGE: B3 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY MIKE MATHER, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: VIRGINIA BEACH LENGTH: Medium: 61 lines
A 30-year police veteran from Albuquerque, N.M., has been elected president of the 270,000-member FOP, the nation's largest law enforcement organization.
``It was a long and arduous campaign,'' said Gil Gallegos, 51. ``But now the campaign rhetoric is over and it is time to do the work.'' He was elected Thursday to the paid post, beating one challenger - Darryl Jones of Maryland - at the conclusion of the FOP's weeklong conference and convention. Delegates used voting machines.
At a news conference Friday morning, Gallegos said his main focus as Fraternal Order of Police president will be lobbying for federal legislation to protect the civil rights of the nation's law enforcement officers.
The Police Officer's Bill of Rights was passed by the Senate in 1993, but did not clear the House of Representatives. Gallegos' predecessor, Dewey Stokes, said he considers the legislation's failure the biggest disappointment of his tenure.
Stokes, for eight years president of the FOP, decided not to seek re-election. He will take the post of county commissioner in Franklin County, Ohio.
Gallegos said he will continue to push for the bill of rights. His home state has a similar law protecting officers, he said. The legislation would guarantee officers due process when they have been accused of wrongdoing, Gallegos said. It would also prevent unsubstantiated punishments or firings, he said.
``Just because they have a badge on their chests does not mean they give up their rights,'' Gallegos said. FOP members said officers in small or rural departments are routinely terminated or disciplined without good reason.
Gallegos said he supports community policing, collective bargaining and ``reasonable'' gun control. He said current firearms laws are adequate and the FOP would not back further gun-control legislation. In fact, the FOP voted this week against supporting handgun registration.
``We have to give the legislation that has passed time to work,'' Gallegos said.
He said he does not support mandatory hiring or promotion quotas.
The FOP's positions on law enforcement legislation are important because local, state and national politicians routinely seek the organization's campaign support. The FOP, like other lobbying groups, only supports politicians who reflect its views.
The state FOP supported the candidacy of Gov. George F. Allen and the national organization backed Attorney General Janet Reno's nomination.
Gallegos rose through the police ranks in Albuquerque, and retired in 1988 as deputy chief. The father of two has a degree in criminal justice. He remained with the force after retirement as an administrator of a drug task force.
Gallegos will serve a two-year term. He can run for re-election at the 1997 conference in Orlando, Fla. ILLUSTRATION: Photos
Gil Gallegos
by CNB