The Piercing Truth

This is right from the dictionary and seems to describe Albuquerque, Berry and Schultz. Fascism (f ash ,izem) noun An authoritarian right wing system of government and/or social organization. (in general use) extreme right wing, authoritarian, chauvinistic and/or intolerant views or practices. Fascism tends to include a belief in the supremacy of one group over another, national, ethnic, especially social strata or monetarily; a contempt for democracy, an insistence on obedience to a powerful leader, and a strong demagogic approach. Compliments of one of our Eyes

Aug 27, 2008

Letters to the Eye: In Their Own Words

Often when we post stories about the goings on in some department or court case, family members contact us with more information about the story itself. Sometimes it corrects mistakes or clarifies facts. Other times these emails add a whole new dimension to the story.

After our post Disturbing Behavior, we received one such email. The author wishes to remain anonymous and since this case involves allegations of criminal sexual behavior, the author has withheld the names of the detectives assigned to the case and of course the accused.

Although the letter does not contain specific allegations regarding the accused, our Eyes tell us that that acts of the accused are particularly contemptible.

Disturbing Behavior - The Parents' Side

Dear EYE,

It has been brought to our attention that one of your Eyes gave you a heads up regarding the situation involving our two boys, ages four and seven. We are sending this in an effort to clarify the details of our plight, and pray that pointing the “Eye” in their direction won’t cause our case to get “lost”.

This nightmare started the day our children told us that a close family friend who watched them had sexually abused them. We did what any competent parents would do, called CPS and APD. CPS advised us that since the perpetrator didn’t live in the home, they wouldn’t investigate. APD sent out an officer nearly 20 hours after our initial call to make a report. An officer took the report and was extremely helpful. He even called us later that evening to let us know who the detective would be and when she would be calling.

“Detective A” (for the sake of protecting our boys, we have chosen not to name any names) called the next day and we set up an appointment for the following day at All Faith’s Receiving Home. Our children were interviewed (video and audiotaped) and “Detective A” spoke with us afterwards. She suggested that we get a restraining order and told us where we could get help obtaining one. She also said that she would contact the offender, provide him with a “No Contact” order, and offer him a chance to tell his side of the story. She further said that she would have the report typed up quickly and get it off to the DA’s office by the end of the next week and we could hopefully expect an indictment soon.

That same day, we obtained a restraining order through the Victim’s Advocacy office. We left feeling confident that things would be dealt with swiftly and our children would be safe. Throughout the weekend, however, the offender attempted to contact various family members by phone. We avoided the phone calls, and the family members that did answer only made small talk so as not to give him details of the pending action against him. This was clearly in violation of the restraining order, so we called “Detective A” immediately to inform her that he was trying to contact us. We got her voicemail and left a message. On Monday, we called again and got a full voicemail box, and at that point I called 242-COPS to find out what to do. Another officer was sent over to make a report. He called for the status of the restraining order and it hadn’t been served. The order was in place Wednesday afternoon and 5 days later it still hadn’t been served. We had absolutely no recourse against him for violating an order that he had no knowledge of.

The next day, “Detective A” finally called back and told us that she and an advocate would make contact with the suspect and serve the restraining order. She went that afternoon and then took him for an interview where he of course denied the allegations. That’s the last time we heard from “Detective A” personally. We figured she would have had ample time to write the report and send it to the DA. Last week, we called the DA’s office to find out the status on the case, since “Detective A” had stopped returning our phone calls. The DA’s office had no record of it. We called “Detective A” again and left another message, and then we called her supervisor. “Supervisor B” returned our call the next day and said since our kids “weren’t raped or sitting in the emergency room with broken bones that they aren’t high on the priority list.” He further said “victims with offenders still living in the household take precedence. Emergencies are dealt with first, and (our) inquiries were doubling or tripling “Detective A’s” work load.” Please note that if our calls had been returned the first time, we wouldn’t have left 5 or 6 more messages, and certainly wouldn’t have called the DA’s office and then the supervisor.

Look, we completely understand that these things take time. It takes a lot of work to put a case together before it’s submitted to the District Attorney’s office so that the case is as strong as possible. We certainly don’t want this animal to get away with what he’s done. But all we’ve asked for is communication, and we are certainly entitled to at least that. We have a right to know where our case stands, and when this man will be indicted, arrested, and punished. And while we concede to the fact that there are children out there that are in greater danger and jeopardy than ours, it does not mitigate the fact that our children were sexually molested. We want justice for our children just as much as the other parents want justice for theirs.

It takes maybe 3 minutes to return a phone call and explain where things stand. We understand that the detectives in this unit have a huge case load and are understaffed, but it doesn’t excuse the fact that our case is “not a high priority”. Our children, especially the seven year old, are terrified that this man is going to come hurt them since they told on him. How do we reassure them that they are safe, when we can’t even count on law enforcement to serve a restraining order or even update us on the status of our case? We are good parents, have worked hard to protect our kids and arm them with the knowledge they needed to protect themselves. We never dreamed that something like this could happen, but when it did, we felt we did everything right. We find it unbelievable that “Detective A” couldn’t simply pick up the phone and call us back, and even more unbelievable that this supervisor would chastise and lecture us for simply wanting information on where we stood in the process. It certainly shakes our faith in the system.

We trusted the man that molested our boys implicitly. Our children loved him, and he used their love and trust for his own sick sexual gratification. We never, in a million years, would have thought he would be capable of doing something so absolutely disgusting and demented. Now we realize, despite knowing this man for nearly 20 years, that we really have no idea who he is or what he is capable of. The fact that he lives a block or two away from an elementary school is even more troubling. You would think that would be a pretty high priority, right?

In closing, there are a couple of details that need to be corrected in your story. While we did discover and report this incident in late July, we are UNSURE of how long it has been going on. The kids say this particular incident was the first and only time, but there are behaviors that our children have exhibited prior to our discovery of the molestation that lead us to believe otherwise. It is highly possible, and even likely (in our opinion) that this has happened before, and the kids simply don’t remember or have repressed. But at this point we can only prove this recent incident. This man has been a family friend for many years, and he has watched our children many, many times, so that aspect of your story is correct.

We want to thank “The Eye” for your attention to our story, and hope that our case gets the attention it deserves, and that justice is served for our children. We will keep you posted as things develop.

Sincerely,

Two very frustrated and disappointed parents

Our Take

We understand why parents would be concerned. Their faith in a family friend has already been betrayed and now the people charged protecting their kids from predators like this "friend" are acting as if their case and their children don't matter - yet another betrayal. The last thing that these folks want to do is anger the people in charge of their case, but fear and frustration are powerful motivators and when your children are involved there's little a parent won't do to make sure their children are safe.

Officers over at the CAC unit need to remember that there's no child that isn't a priority. Parents of child victims need constant communication and updates. After all, it's a parent's responsibility to protect their child and to help them heal. Parents can't go on vacation, and they can't move on to some other priority as long as there's a chance that their child may still be in danger - particularly since most parents would already be feeling (wrongly) that they had failed their child or were somehow responsible. When a child has been through something like this parents don't give a damn whether or not the courts are clogged, the police have other priorities, or the DA is overworked - they demand and deserve justice for their children.

15 comments:

Anonymous said...

A classic example of APD doing what they want and NOT their jobs! WAKE UP CHEIF! To the parents, I am so sorry you have to go through this, and so sorry that your children have been violated. I bet Detective "A" has children of her own. I wonder how she would feel if it were her children. You bet it would be a priority. APD needs to do their jobs in ALL UNITS instead of sitting around all day, talking, going to breakfast for hours and lunch for hours. You all that are doing this should be ashamed.

Anonymous said...

on behalf of APD, im truly sorry and embarassed for the actions of the detectives. Chief, please you owe it to the parents--give them a call, apologize and get this pedophile indicted. Chief, you went to Brandenberg demanding Kirby's indictment, cant you do this same for this predator?

Anonymous said...

Having been in a CAC unit in the past with another department, this appalling to me and there is NO excuse not to keep parents or guardians informed. EVERY sex abuse case is priority regardless is there is penetration or not. The children suffer the same emotional and psychological scars.
This Detective A is a slap in the face to the other hard working detectives that do their jobs.

Anonymous said...

I agree and what is truly pathetic is this detective is in line to become a sgt!

Anonymous said...

Ths does not surprise me at all. This is the norm rather than the exception at CACU. We need a new Chief from outside APD and new DC's from outside APD. This way there is no baggage and favors owed. The department needs cleaning up from the top down. The vast majority of the everyday rank and file are hard working, good cops, but the apathy of the 5th floor is appalling. There is a pervasive attitude of "we are the greatest" coming from the 5th floor. The complete lack of leadership and accountability of the 5th floor is the main problem in this department. That being said, we all know the Chief will not do the right thing and apologize to the parents of the two " not a high priority " kids.

Anonymous said...

In line to be a sgt? How very sad. How does someone become a sgt that doesn't even know how to do their current job? You should be ashamed Detective. ASHAMED. Must be in bed with someone high up.

Anonymous said...

The priveledge of becoming a sgt should be taken away when you don't take your job seriously such as this detective.

Anonymous said...

How about the two "detectives" at BCSO that protected the federal DEA informant that admitted to raping over 200 children.He raped two ABQ children and they tried to hide him. THEY are in line for the two open captains positions at SO right now..THAT is also sickening. And this guy Darren White that wants to be OUR congressman KNOWS all about their attempted cover up and does nothing to them but PROMOTE.

Anonymous said...

August 28, 2008 3:02:00 PM MDT Blog:

Name them!

Anonymous said...

I think these parents should go straight to I.A.. These officers chose to go to CACU, they know the job calls for compassion and patience. How embarassing.

Anonymous said...

Marcantel and Thomas...BCSO..there's your names!
Also involved was Joe Bowdich, Ken McWethy Sr., Roy Dennis, Dennis Nasci, Sylvester Stanley, BOB GORENCE (sound familiar?)John Kelly..any other info you want 3:02?????

Anonymous said...

I understand other cases may take priority, but how hard is it to return a phone call?? Nothing in law enforcement moves fast, so i understand this case would take time. I think grand jury is backed up for months. But jeez, people should not have to call 5 or 6 times. Treat them like human beings, don't victimize them again. At least finish the case and let the DA's office deal with why the case hasn't been to grand jury.

Anonymous said...

All divisions in APD suffer from cops who are lazy and don't care. You can drive on Central all day any day and see the same old whores walking around. When is the last time we had a sighting of a gang unit or Rop cop. I'm in grand jury about once every other week, never see any cops from SID other than narcs. We are slowly bleeding everywhere and who knows when or if the bleeding will stop.

Anonymous said...

You people need to understand the CACU side of this story. Get to work at 0900 go to coffee until 1030. Go to lunch at 1115. return to the office at 1330 hrs. Look at a case and go home by 1530hrs. There is no time to do any work!!! Watch any detective at CIB same scam different building!!!

Anonymous said...

PEOPLE WHO BASH COPS, ARE JUST %^&$HEADS ANYWAY! THEY WORK HARD, AND PUT THEIR LIFE ON THE LINE. THE ONLY ONE WHO DOES NOT DO HIS JOB IS THE CHIEF. I THINK AS FAR AS THE SCHEDULE GOES...PUT THEM BACK ON 5 EIGHTS. NOT THE SCHEDULE THEY WORK NOW. THEY ARE TIRED AND HAVE NO TIME FOR THEIR FAMILY. HOW COULD YOU WORK AS A POLICEMEN, IF YOU ARE TIRED ALL THE TIME? YOU COULD GET HURT OR EVEN WORSE...CHIEF, YOU NEED TO GET OFF YOUR BUTT AND DO SOMETHING...(USEFUL)! WHO CARES ABOUT RED LIGHT CAMERAS, AND THE SPEED VAN?..BLAH, BLAH, BLAH......YOU NEED TO TAKE CARE OF YOUR PEOPLE! YOU NEED TO QUIT GOING ON T.V. AND SAYING EVERYTHING IS FINE....WHAT ARE YOU DOING ON T.V. ANYWAY? THE ONES WHO NEED TO BE DOING INTERVIEWS ARE THE ONES WHO ACTUALLY DO WORK AS OFFICERS AND KNOW WHAT THEY ARE TALKING ABOUT!!!