To bring you up to speed Mark Shepherd was an APD officer assigned to protect Mayor Marty from... well something or someone, and drive him from appointment to appointment. Following his retirement from APD, he applied for and was awarded his current job as Security Manager for the Department of Municipal Development. In essence, he became the top man in the agency that is tasked with keeping an eye on all of the city owned facilities.So far, nothing seems amiss. However, after being awarded the job no less than two complaints were filed with the City of Albuquerque Employee Equity Office alleging that Mr. Shepherd was hired for the position of DMD Secrity Manager even though he was not qualified for the position. The allegations triggered an investigation into the claims.
The investigation found that Mr. Shepherd had not "truthfully represent his work experience," and that "city officials should have scrutinized Mr. Shepherd's statements regarding his work experience more carefully." The investigation also found irregularities in the interview process. Apparently Mr. Shepherd listed Deputy Administrator Nick Bakas as a reference on his application. Turns out Mr. Bakas was also on the interview team. The investigative report found that "at best, this could be considered to have the appearance of impropriety. At worst, it appears more than likely that one of the interviewers was predisposed to hire Mr. Shepherd."The report concluded:
1.) Mr. Shepherd "knowingly made false statements in his application," a violation of the City of Albuquerque Personnel Rules and Regulations which states that "applicants aare ineligible for City employment for reasons including, but not limited to... any fraudulent for false statement on an application."
2.) "City officials improperly accepted Mr. Shepherd's improbable representations of work experience and did not properly evaluate his work and supervisor experience."
3.) "An individual named as a reference improperly served as a member of the interview panel."
4.) "Interview benchmarks do not support the choice of Mr. Shepherd over [redacted]"
Further, the investigator found that they "must conclude that the irregularities in this hiring process support" the allegations made by the claimants.
The real question here is given this information, what did the city do? Our Eyes tell us that the city settled the claims with terms undisclosed and Mr. Shepherd is still serving as Security Manager. Looks an awful lot like a break to us... just not for the Mayor's mother.
17 comments:
Is there any end to the crooks and crooked politics in this city? Incompetence reigns and favors above qualifications is the rule of the day.This city is in moral decay and it's leaders should be held accountable for their continuous corruption. When and where will it end.
Mayor Marty says no one gets special treatment! His daughter was arrested for shoplifting and after a phone call from Chief Schultz the dollar amount was dropped to $499.98 just 2 cents under a felony. Do they really think that everyone believes their crap!!
This is the same guy, (correct me if I am wrong) who was on tv about 2 months ago in reference to an incident that occurred in the downtown area in which a security officer broke up a fight between two corrections officers, and Mr. Shepherd said that that kind of behavior by city employees should not be tolerated because "as city employees they should be held to a higher standard".
What a lying hypocrite! Where is the higher standard he should hold himself to? He should resign in shame if he has any conscience at all, but we know that as one of Marty's minions, it'll never happen, no matter how much money the city bleeds out in lawsuits over his hiring or mismanagement. The public should demand his resignation, and Marty should step up and admit his hiring was a mistake, although just like every sociopath, Mr. Shepherd is a smooth operator and has managed to bulls*** his way through so far at the expense of his officers, and the taxpayers who've had to foot the bill for the settlement the city is still paying out.
It's that kind of mentality that brings the lawsuits against the city that makes it necessary to have red light camera income coming in, just so they can keep their heads above water.
Resign Mr. Shepherd. Admit your wrongdoing Mr. Bakas. Cut your losses Mayor Chavez.
from the city's administrative instructions: 101.3 Requirements for Employment
External applicants are responsible for furnishing job-related documentation, including, but not limited to, a copy of educational transcripts, proof of the attainment of licenses, certificates, permits, degrees and registrations, as required, prior to an offer of employment.
101.4 Applicant Qualifications
Qualifications are the primary consideration in filling any position. Experience, education, training, skills and other abilities, as well as specific position requirements and the prior employment history of the applicant will be considered in appraising individual qualifications.
101.6 Ineligibility for Employment
Applicants are ineligible for City employment for reasons including, but not limited to, the following:
A. Any fraudulent or false statement on an application or failure to provide information; or
B. Any fraudulent conduct in connection with an examination; or
(etc etc, available at cabq.eweb.gov)
Also from the city's code of conduct:
301.9 False Statements/Fraud
No employee shall willfully make any false statement, certificate, mark, rating or report in regard to any test, certification, appointment or investigation, or in any manner commit any fraud, conceal any wrongdoing or knowingly withhold information about wrongdoing in connection with employment with the City or in connection with the work-related conduct of any City employee.
Looks to me like there's plenty of criminal activity to go around. Maybe Mr. Shepherd needs to resign before he's charged with perjury, sued for everything he owns and publicly disgraced. Oops, forgot, Marty has his back, and they are both so arrogant that they think they are untouchable.
Before Marty denies knowing that Shepherd lied, ask why he didn't accept his resignation tendered after the eeoc complaint came back stating that Shepherd lied. He KEPT him in, knowing he lied, and paid out instead of doing the right thing.
Do we want him as governor? I think not. He'll just do to the state what he's done to the city. Can we afford him as governor? (Be prepared for red light money makers statewide to finance the lawsuits.)
Wow! I was going to say something else, but after reading the comments and this article, I'm just speachless
with the s_ _ t that this city and this administration get away with.
Too bad the City Security Officers put so much work into lying and trying to get away with not working. How is this for thought? Maybe if you put half as much effort into trying to do a good job as you do at trying to be trouble makers then maybe you too could get rewarded. The Mayor deserves a medal for hiring Mark. He holds you accountable. Finally the Security Department is something to be proud of and not a joke. Maybe you complaining trouble makers should go work at a place better suited for your talents. I hear McDonalds is always hiring.
If you worked there you would know better. Which one are you, Shepherd, or one of his knee pad wearing sergeants?
Explain why the city would find in favor of the complaintants if it weren't true? The city doesn't find against the city unless it has NO OTHER choice and it is a blatant violatation. Explain why the complaintants got a large chunk of money and salary increase? Most of the people that work there won't tell anyone that they do because they are embarrassed to let anyone know they work for such a crooked organization and lying managers. Trust me, working at McDonalds would be an improvement, at least it's honest work and you could hold your head up at the end of the day. The security department is a bigger joke than ever, and we don't even have Ronald McDonald to show for it. Instead we have the scamburglar. I'd be prouder to work for them than Shepherd anyday.
The answer to your question is simple. Just like the Security Dept has a few incompetent people so does our City Legal Dept. What does James Lewis have in common with the employee who won the law suit based on a purchased Master's Degree. The City does not have enough Directors who hold employees accountable. Really this is the issue. You are angry because you are expected to follow policies, show up for work and work while you are getting paid. No longer is the standard okay to waste taxpayer dollars. You have really made your point that you would prefer to go work at McDonald's. I encourage you to go to Human Resources immediately and resign so you can make yourself feel better and shed your shroud of shame. This would make your City proud.
You seem to be very efficient at pointing fingers, but what kind of employee are you? Can you honestly say that you are a good employee. Someone who goes to work everyday, doesn't complain and goes home at the end of the day and feels good about an "honest days work". Somehow I don't think you could say that. Do you really know any of the facts of case you continue to cite? I think all you've heard is rumor and innuendo then you pick up your computer and start spewing nonsense. Some of us know better! It's unfortunate that people like you take no pride in what they do or how they live. At least Mr. Shepherd's (as you would say, knee pad wearing Sergeant's, just goes to show your lack of intelligence)has the respect and dedication that he deserves from those certain employees. Can you say that, do you have anyone's respect??? If you are unhappy with you current position as a city employee, I really don't think that there is anyone out there forcing you to stay. We are very lucky to live in a country where you are free to choose where to live and work. Feel free to go elsewhere, I strongly encourage you to do so. Open up a position for a dedicated person who truly wants to be there. Your words tell me you are a poor employee, wasting my taxpayer dollars,who spends valuable time complaining because you no longer have a Manager that you can manipulate. Get used to the idea of competence, integrity and honesty in the Security Managers Office, think it will be quicker for you to move on as opposed to your alternative.
I guess we will have to see who is left standing in the end. Mr. Shepherd who has done nothing but lie to his employees as well as the city, while wasting the taxpayers dollars on lawsuits (that would have never been filed had he had ANY managerial experience), or the employees that brought his wrongdoing to light. We all know the managers in security are dirtier than all of the officers, but in Mr. Shepherd's case, as well as his Sgt's case, the old saying is true; when you lie down with dogs, you get up with fleas.
Instead of blindly following Mr. Shepherd, you'd do well to honestly investigate just what the EEOC found. Just like one of the officer's said the other day, it's one thing to be ignorant. It's another to be stupid. Not finding out for yourself what the truth really is? Pretty stupid.
Regardless of what you believe, again, the city doesn't find against the city unless there is no other choice, and the entire city knows that the city paid out on this one. It can't be denied. The freedom of information act will get you your very own copy of the eeoc investigation, find out for yourself, and then when you do, ask yourself what kind of person YOU are to be defending someone like that.
(And yes, I have MY very own copy of it, and those little things that look like this " in the original post, mean that the eye was quoting directly from the eeoc investigation findings. Like I said, it's one thing to be ignorant, it's another to be stupid. And like one of the other comments said, every sociopath has his admirers. Go ahead, let him keep pissing in your ear, and tell you it's raining.)
I do not work for the city's security department however I know that what the officers are saying are true. You can believe me or not I dont care, but let me give you some wisdom...I believe the first point I want to make here is the comment something about uneducated whatever, I dont care to go back and look for it because it made me sick. If it is a matter of being educated then please explain to me how Sergeants hold such high positions with only a high school education? Maybe there is a lack of higher standards there.
The Security division has many many dedicated hard working officers and yes could you believe it actually working for their pay. Correct me if I am wrong but didnt one Sergeant get busted taking HER officers to eat out while on duty...hummmmm guess she wasnt wasting tax payers money. Or what about the two who wrecked the car while drinking on duty, I guess you didnt think we knew about that one. Yeah Mr. Shepard was so willing to hide it and the wonderful mayor helped him do so. I guess fixing the wreck isnt a waste of tax payers money either.
Maybe it seems that security officers are not doing their jobs because YOU WONT LET THEM! They have to have permission to do anything even if it is a standard SOP. The silly chain of command ties their hands and when they dont use the proper chain of command they get written up. Cut the bullshit and lets just agree, they are only there to look pretty and god forbid that they actually keep anything or anyone safe because the Sergants are so worried about being sued. The way I see it, if the city is so willing to pay out lawsuits to keep a dipshit like Mr. Shepard then they are not lacking the funds to defend their officers. LET THEM DO THEIR JOBS!!
If you think that the officers are horriable, unwilling to work, and uneducated its only because their management has set such a great example. You sir have really disgusted me, however I take comfort in the fact that changes are comming and they are comming soon and I pray that you are in the pot when the fire starts.
I agree if the officers are liars then they are only led by example. I too do not work for security but have dealt with Sergants from that department who are rude, underhanded and do anything to get around the law. I dont know how many times I have had to tell them they cant do something, but they do it anyway, its as if they are harrassing their officers. All I can say is training is definately needed.
From a previous comment:
"Anonymous said...
The answer to your question is simple. Just like the Security Dept has a few incompetent people so does our City Legal Dept. What does James Lewis have in common with the employee who won the law suit based on a purchased Master's Degree."
It was only a matter of time until a certain Sgt threw the race card, and we all know which Sgt. you are. This is the same sgt that was suspended for several days for making racially inappropriate comments, (slurs) about another employee, and told me himself about a newly promoted Sgt, that (and I quote), "she is just another nigger bitch that thinks the world owes her a living." Wonder if she knows just how you feel about her especially since you are now so nice to her face. Or the other Sgt that is (your words) "a carpet muncher". They're all your buddies now though aren't they? And I wonder how Sheppie would feel if he knew how you used to talk about sniping cops off the roof of city hall? (I guess you were just angry about being suspended by Capt. Olguin, it was a misunderstanding maybe?) Isn't that what the officers are being told about their problems? It's all a misunderstanding. Do not misunderstand this, by throwing the race card, you have outted yourself, we all know who and what you are.
Ahh the wonder of the race card. Doesn't matter that a certain Sgt. was not qualified for the position, but made the threat after applying 3 times for a Sgt's position. I'm going to sue, they will not let move up cause I'm black. Cry me a river. You shouldn't try for something you are not qualified for. Get the education (a real one) and then put in for the position. Well it just goes to show, throw the race card and you still end up with the knee pads on for the white man.
Yeah. Like all the supervisors have ANY education whatsoever. Again, your racism is showing. And YOUR lack of schooling is too. There's not a damn one of the supervisors that hasn't been promoted WAY over their capability to do the job. Not only can they not do their job, they can't even buy a clue to what that job is......other than being able to nurse their petty little vendetta's, grievances and jealousy's of the officers, wishing that they had a life and some friends. Sucks to be you.
I also do not work for City Security but have dealt with Sergeants from that department. And let me tell you what a selection they are. The all-knowing vs. the incompetent. I see and hear (and have witnessed first hand) what a selection of sneaky, backstabbing degenerate weasels. A Sergeant is a leadership position and one that should be held to a higher standard. Now there are one or two that I would classify as honest and trustworthy and one I would identify as trying to set a good example. But those few spend all of their time trying to protect themselves from the pathetic weasels that run free with impunity because they are part of Shep's select. No, if you are a city employee you owe it to yourself, the city and they other officers to point out and bring those who take advantages of their position to the management for discipline. But since our management is just is crooked... Well you turn on the light and the cockroaches run. But I guess since you NO integrity it's easy to use your kid's speak and spell and try to make everyone else thing they are wrong. You should be ashamed because at the very least you violate the city trust and faith we have placed in you.
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