Herrera: No gag for employees

Copyright © 2008
Gallup Independent
By Kevin Killough
Staff writer

GALLUP — City Manager Gerald Herrera sent out a memo on Oct. 6 to clarify to city employees that they do have a right to free speech and are allowed to talk to the media. The memo also explains that as representatives of the city, they can not offer opinions or information unrelated to their job or that they aren’t absolutely sure is accurate. Such comments could be misconstrued as official opinion or be misleading and could put a city employee’s job at risk, Herrera stated in the memo.

It’s a rather open policy that is unusual coming from a government entity. By and large, most entities have a public relations hierarchy, and employees are required to defer all interview requests from journalists up the proper chain of command.

“We’re not cutting anyone off from talking to the media,” Herrera said.

Those in the private sector face the same kind of policy, whether it’s stated overtly or not. If you talk negatively to journalists about your boss, co-workers, or company you work for, you risk losing your job.

“As stated in the (Bill of Rights), all city employees have the right to speak freely when ask(ed) by the news media,” the memo reads. “However, that does not preclude the city administration’s right to disseminate the official public opinion(s) or position of the city of Gallup.”

The memo was similar to one sent out on Sept. 29 but included clarification on how to deal with hostile people, who threaten city employees. The extra information was in response to a city employee, who claims to have been assaulted by a member of the media. While the media person denies the claim and says that it was he who was assaulted, Herrera wanted employees to know they have a right to defend themselves.

“City employees shall (always) have the right to physically defend themselves if the need arises,” Herrera said.