ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – It was a highly debated bill addressing paramedic staffing within Albuquerque Fire Rescue, pitting the fire chief against the firefighters union and Albuquerque City Council. The bill passed but the fight against it isn’t over as Mayor Tim Keller has taken it to the courts claiming the council overstepped its authority.
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After a heated and lengthy council meeting earlier this month, council voted 7-2 to pass R-25-122. The bill codified the current staffing requirement of having two paramedics on AFR rescue units. It came after AFR Chief Emily Jaramillo rolled out a pilot that would have a firefighter with basic EMT training take the place of one of the two fully-trained paramedics when responding to calls. The chief said this would allow at least one paramedic at more calls across the city and noted the department’s challenge in recruiting paramedics.
Though the ordinance is now in place, its future could be uncertain. Instead of vetoing the bill, Mayor Tim Keller has filed a legal complaint against the council asking a court to at least put a pause on the ordinance.
It claims that after AFR leadership and the firefighters union, International Association of Fire Fighter 244, disagreed on that staffing change, the union conspired with city councilors to get their preference through legislation. The complaint claims this violated the city’s Labor Management Rights Ordinance.
The complaint also accused city council of violating the separation of powers set forth by state and city law, by intruding on the executive branch’s authority of determining staffing.
Personnel disputes need to be resolved by the labor board and through the courts, not by politicians including me. Until then, I’m confident our Fire Chief and our firefighters will keep doing what they do best, protecting our city and serving those in need.
Mayor Tim Keller
But in another statement tonight Councilor Dan Lewis, who was one of the sponsors of the bill along with Councilor Joaquin Baca, argued otherwise. The councilor maintained that the city charter grants council the power to “adopt all ordinances conducive to the welfare of the people of Albuquerque,” and that this action was fully within that authority.
“While Mayor Tim Keller fights the International Association of Fire Fighters, the City Council is listening to the union and the paramedics in the field who are saving lives,” said Councilor Lewis in an emailed statement. “Having two paramedics on a rescue unit increases the chances of someone surviving a heart attack or serious injuries from an automobile accident.”
There is no hearing date set yet on the complaint. Chief Jaramillo sat down with News 13’s New Mexico News Insiders podcast. To listen to her in-depth interview on this issue, you can listen to the episode wherever you get your podcasts starting on March 25, 2025.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
