The Journal is reporting today what we told you about last night - Officer Daniel Guzman is gone. According to the Journal, Chief Schultz "studied the case all last weekend," and decided to terminate the star of photographer Rick Foley's tape (ABQ Journal - Subscription).
What's curious to us is that Officer Levi Chavez who may have had a hand in his wife's death - you know a homicide - is still on the force. Actually he's being paid by the force not to come to work. Most of us call that vacation.
The allegations against Chavez don't just include well... murder - they include financial difficulties and insurance fraud. At the time of his wife's untimely demise, Chavez was a probationary officer which means he can be terminated for just about anything. We've said it before, but wouldn't the circumstance of Tera Chavez' death qualify as a reason to send Chavez packing?
It seems that the Chief's idea of punishment is inversely proportional to the seriousness of the offense. Stupidly (and wrongly) rough up a local news photographer and you're history. If you're implicated in your wife's murder - you're on vacation.
25 comments:
Perhaps the reason was because Guzman's administrative process was completed and Chavez has not, that is called due process. Although Chavez' investigations are takeing way too long!
The Guzman/Chavez fiasco is just the tip of the iceberg.
There still aren't 1,100 officers (probably not even 1,000) and someone ought to take a look at how the 5th floor is cooking the financials.
Rampant mismanagement and Enron accounting.
Is there any evidence that Chavez did any crime whatsoever? And who is calling this a Homicide? OMI ruled it a Suicide. Aaron Jones of VCSO is the one who changed the death to UNDETERMINED. Even Tara Chavez's family has said that they dont know if its a Suicide or not. (According to their lawsuit.)This is ridiculous already. Is this even still under investigation? Its been like a year already.
Levi Chavez is the son of Levi Chavez Sr., who was fired from the State Insurance Fraud Div. for falsifying time cards.
Levi Chavez is also the nephew of Robert Chavez of Santa Rosa's Sheriff who was present for two "suicides."
There's a pattern with the Chavez family.
How about conduct unbecoming? How about failing to assit (took too long to call for police). How about the fact he got married so soon because of his affair? How about the marijuana in the house? We are paying him for being on vacation!
I wish I could get hour for hour vacation for my job. Work a year, take a year.
The way I see it, if you get in trouble,and get Admin Leave, you should get another job till it gets resolved. I think Cottonwood mall would hire old Levi for a while as a security officer till his situation gets resolved. then if admin decides they fire the guy, they haven't given him a free vacation for X amount of time, and if the guy was fine, he gets all the backpay. It pisses me off to hear about the dirtbags that get in trouble, and then get a long paid vacation.
Speaking of dirtbags, How did the cop fair that killed the kid on Texas St a few weeks ago? I know there was an interagancy investigation, and I know the cop was a bad apple, but never heard how he explained how the kid in his handcuffs that was alive and fine was eventually taken by a coroner? Just curious?
The Guzman firing was all political. Ray Schultz wanted to look good for the media.
I also agree with other posts. Why doesn't the Mayor fire Ray Schultz for untruthfulness. Everytime he opens his mouth he is usually lying. One recent example is when he said those officers who went to Los Lunas were on their own time. We all know that is a bold out right lie. Look at the timesheets and see that all were paid in some form or another!
The man is a compulsive liar!
He is a horrible leader who gets off one the officers hating him. I know he does not care what we think! However, remember, Chief Ray, what goes around, comes around. Sooner or later you will get yours, Chief Schultz.
NO CONFIDENCE!!!! is there anyone to stand up and vote a no confidence this thursday at the APOA meeting?
"NO CONFIDENCE!!!! is there anyone to stand up and vote a no confidence this thursday at the APOA meeting?"
You go first and then we will all stand up behind you. Don't look for someone to do your dirty business, be a leader and do it yourself!
I know the kneejerk here is to hate on Schultz, but there's video evidence of Guzman attacking the cameraman, whereas Chavez hasn't even been criminally charged yet as far as I know.
The price of the protection that the union affords to all officers from being fired on weak grounds is that real scum like Chavez (and others) are kept on until they've been indicted.
I doubt Levi was dumb enough to leave evidence that he's actually the murderer (if indeed he is) so he may never even have to a grand jury. Unless he can be nailed on the insurance fraud or other allegations we may have Levi back patrolling the streets.
"You go first and then we will all stand up behind you. Don't look for someone to do your dirty business, be a leader and do it yourself!"
I cant. Im not a sworn officer, but I know eenough to know this chief sucks
Hmmmmmmm, To whom ever wants to do a vote of no confidence, don't paint a target on your back unless you can retire within the next six months. Once you have a target, you will suffer for your entire career. I should know, I spoke out and it fell on deaf ears. Now I am pretty much stuck and can only do my job and know that I have not, nor ever will be a part of the good ol' boy system. So keep doing your job the way your supposed too and know that when you retire, you owe nothing to anyone and you did it on your own. Chiefs come and go and it follows the wave of new mayors. If you don't like what one Chief does, you won't like what another one does. I have not given up, but I am tired of fighting and will just simply wait for the target to fade................
Last post is correct. This chief and his staff will come at you with everything they have. Unless you are totally sure you can get the support you need for the votes, be very careful. I know the entire dept hates Chief
Schultz, but they are scared to do any thing against him because of his vengence. It might be best to wait him out.( 1-year) The vote can win if you can keep officers names secret and get Ron Olivas aboard. Good luck with Olivas, he is in the 5th floor's pocket.
Ron Olivas? Who's that?
Ron is a good man and will do what is right....
To all you guys fearing the target being on your backside Ill say this;
"You don't have to stand tall, but you do have to stand up."
NO CONFIDENCE>>... we can all stand up for each other once and for all
Remember when the Chief said that once we got to 1100 officers that we would go back to 4/10's. Well, what happened chief? You say our numbers are getting close to 1100 officers but I do not see any more officers in our briefings. In fact, our briefings of officers seems to be getting smaller. So, my question to you chief, is where are all these new officers??? They sure are not in the field taking calls for service! The media really needs to examine the numbers the chief gives them as he has a past history of making them up. I do know will are still losing officers every day to retirements and other jobs. Even our own APOA Vice President just left APD for a better job. That was a good thing, since he really did not help the officers out and was in the 5th floors pocket.
You guys should have been around during the Ken Shultz or Saavedra mayorships. Or the reign of Sammy Baca as chief. Hell these guys you are complaining about all pale by comparison.
What happened to Sgt request to have a full account of all officers? There are officers scattered inside and other places that are being counted as in the field.Officers in "traffic" but being a crossing guard. Officers in drug task forces, being counted, marshall's office (being counted). At what point do we as an organization stand up and say thats it once and for all.
I think the no confidence is a great thing, if we can all stand united.
It is a load of bull that Levi Chavez is still on the force. And in response to one of the first comments according to the lawsuit filed by Tera's family they do not know if she committed suicide because she told them and many others "if anything ever happens to me, Levi did it". I was a friend of Teras and she NEVER appeared suicidal to me at all. I told that to the investigator and I am sure many others that he interview told him similar things. And if you think about it he did nothing but profit from her being gone. His truck got "stolen" giving him the freedom to by a new Cadillac that he can afford because he is being paid to just dick around and he tried to get the money for her life insurance (but it is on hold) that he so conviently got I think 2 weeks before she passed. Even if there is no physical evidents against him I have no idea why he has not been charged! This whole case is so dirty. I feel so bad for her kids. They lost a great mom and got left with that for a father!!!!!!!
"Even if there is no physical evidents against him I have no idea why he has not been charged!"
---Ummm,evidence is pretty important. I think if there was any hard evidence to this case it probably would have come out by now. Has anybody heard anything about whats going on with it?
If you want the media to feel safe put one of the retire hire backs incharge. You cant get them to move.
haha lynn scott is in traffic as a school crossing guard. good thing! do u really want her on the streets?
Levi should be done for conduct unbecoming, so should Heather. The way they acted was deplorable. I dont know a single cop who doesnt know what marijuana smells like. Levi knew it was in the house.
His story about his truck being stolen was total horse crap too
Unless you know the family or Levi on a personal level and know their history. You have no room to talk about what this should be ruled. Levi wasnt exactlly a stand up guys. This case need to stay open until they can solve it. Her family and children deserve to know what happen that night.
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