PORTALES, N.M. (AP) - An outside audit Portales Police Department is highly critical of the department and Chief Jeff Gill in particular.

The report by a Rio Rancho consulting firm portrays a culture rife with officer intimidation, lack of communication and sloppy handling of evidence.

The City Council ordered the review after Deputy Chief Lonnie Berry was charged last year with three felony counts of tampering with public records. Berry resigned from office and pleaded no contest to the charges.

The report notes that Gill's management style was one of trust, placing "tremendous" authority in his subordinate supervisors.

Gill tells the Portales News-Tribune (http://bit.ly/IALQNj ) he's already made some changes and takes full responsibility. The city council is set to discuss the report and what to do about the department at its meeting this week.

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Information from: Portales News-Tribune, http://www.pntonline.com

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