APD's DWI Unit has been given new orders... Get your own drunks. In an attempt to cut costs, The 5th Floor has issued orders directing all officers in the field not to turn over suspected drunk drivers to the DWI unit.
Until the latest orders from on high, officers taking calls for service would handle the initial contact with suspects and then turn them over to officers from the DWI unit for further testing and booking returning the original officer to service. Under the new policy, field officers are ordered to handle DWI suspects from beginning to end which in many cases entails hauling suspects out to Metropolitan Detention Center.
MDC is 27 minutes from Downtown Albuquerque, about 37 minutes from the heights. And that's one way. In an 8 hour shift field officers will be spending almost 13% of their shift just transporting their suspect. On 10 hour graveyard shifts that's 10% burned in transport. None of this includes the time needed to fully field test, write reports, and book the suspect. Even with the PTC in operation, officers in the Foothills, Northeast, and Northwest Area Commands can expect to have spend at least 40 minutes transporting.
In reality, field officers will be 10-7 (out of service for the uninitiated) for a minimum of two to three hours every time they make a DWI arrest. That means these field officers - whose primary responsibility is to respond to calls for service - will be unavailable all in an attempt to cut down court overtime.
You see... when a field officer makes a stop for suspected DWI and calls in a DWI officer, both officers are required to appear in court. That's twice the overtime. Now that the department has prohibited field officers from calling in DWI officers, APD will only be on the hook for one officer's overtime.
The problem is the new policy takes field officers out of the field for extended periods of time. It takes supervisors out of the field by requiring sergeants to leave the field when making a DWI arrest. And it leaves DWI officers casting about the city looking for drunks on their own. All of this assumes that field officers continue to make the same number of stops - which they won't.
Our Eyes tell us that sergeants and field officers are more reluctant to pull over suspected drunks when calls for service have begun to stack. Meanwhile, DWI officers - who are supposed to be DWI specialists and having lost their steady stream of DWI work - are so bored that they're taking calls for service. So... Instead of 100 or so officers actively looking for DWIs, there are but a handful.
The new orders signal a fundamental shift in APD policy. In the name of saving a few bucks, The 5th Floor has chosen to sacrifice your safety. Officers now have to choose between taking a drunk off the street or responding to domestic violence calls, burglaries, assaults, rapes, and murders. Either choice is a bad one.
----- Update -----
We've been rightly chastised for using the above 10-7 code for officers toting DWI suspects to the MDC. The technically accurate code is 10-6 - On Non-Dispatch Activity. But for those folks who are calling for help while officers are busy hauling someone down to MDC instead of responding to calls for service, that officer is functionally out of service.
52 comments:
Do they only have to take DWI suspects to the MDC or do officers have to transport everyone they arrest over there?
A DWI 34 taking a call for service??? HAAAAAAHAAHAAAAHAA
So if I understand this correctly the DWI officers will have to find and arrest DWI suspects. And field officers will have to do their job. I support the 5th floor! DWI needs to stop going 10-8 in the field like the rest of us. Time to work BOYS!
No safety is sacrificed, the 5th floor has finally decided to make DWI work!
The real reason for the policy change has to do with raising morale. It seems word got around that officers on the DWI unit were making very good "propinas" not to show up to court. The blue code of silence brothers want a share so now they will get their chance. Que bueno suerte! Propinas para todos!
Schultz is the one who started this to begin with. Now that he only has a couple of months left he has to make changes.
Stop trying to reinvent things and leave the changes for when Beth when she takes over.
so let me understand this right the memo says sergeants have to make their own DWI arrests too? come on now,,,hahahahahahahaha that about as funny as DWI officers helping with calls for service.
It's payback for DWI pulling over Peaches.
This doesn't boost morale!!!
Lets take more field 34s off the streets to do hours of DWI paperwork and transport so they are not available for calls for service or to help their fellow 34s when they need backup(82). Just in time for the warm weather when calls for service increase. Good job 5th floor, why don't you take our ammo away that would save money too and we could just use the gun as a club. Total and complete morons attempting save a buck at the expense of 34s and the community!!! Bravo, give yourselves a pat on the back!!!
this policy was specifically targeted at Paul Heh and his squad due to the fact that he and his squad do so many DWI stops and arrests. So i guess when all of the northeast command is tied up at MDC booking drunks then the Foothills and Southeast officers can take our calls! Im sure this will make them happy
I sure hope MADD has been informed about this.
I bet DWI's will drop off significantly, thats to bad it only hurts the people of this city! I sure hope its worth the saftey of the citizens! I hope you can live with yourself Darren Shultz Berry if someone gets hurt.
Someone should open up the investigation to Schultz when he was in DWI back in the 1980's. Hmmmmm just why was he kicked out of that unit?
Ok, now we're getting somewhere. You mean to tell us that Darren's girlfriend (Peaches) was booked for DWI ? Where was the trap set? Capos or TD's
Do tell..
You r all wrong! Dwi use to work now their work has greatly been decreased!
Did the PTC go away or am I missing something. Sgts dont make arrests and DWI doesn't do field work. That wont change and when the hell is someone going to knock down Peaches booze and cruise. WTF.
I think the eye and officers leaving comments need to stop using ten code and then explaining what it means!!! Civilians do read these posts guys!!!
Dont worry DWI arrests will drop to next to nothing. But due to the fact that darren now owns the journal with tj leading the way, the story will be spun to make the drop look like a good thing. I hope the public is aware of what is going on. The City leardership has got all of us into this financial mess. The public is going to pay for it in one way or another. IN this case it may be with your life. Feld Officers main job is calls for service. When you want a cop for whatever reasn you expect that cop to show up where you need him / her. If they are booking drunks they are out of service. THERE IS NO ONE TO ANSWER YOUR CALL. The field has a hard choice,take calls or due DWI arrests. Sergeants will stop making DWI arrests they must be available to supervise. If they are booking a drunk and things go bad such as a murder that supervisor is in deep trouble for not responding to that scene. So darren save a few bucks and throw the citizens of Albuquerque under the bus. On a side note I see you lost another federal lawsuite darren for targeting an officer. THAT IS TWO IN LESS THAN A YEAR. THE FIRST ONE COST THE CITY AND COUNTY ALMOST ONE MILLION DOLLARS. THAT IS A LOT DWI COURT. HOW MUCH DID THIS LATEST ONE COST THE TAXPAYERS ? I will e-main the case to the EYE. Hope you post it EYE.
OK OK OK OK OK its about time dwi officers work, but what about sid, sro, swat, aviation, k-9, open space, the traffic unit and any other SPECIAL and i do mean (SPECIAL) division(s) for the city.
i hate to say this but i think its time to lay off rehires if the city of albuquerque want to save money. a 20 year veteran who is retired is getting a pay check from their pension plus another pay check from the city that is gravy for them, or have the rehires pay 100% back into PERA.
i know i know some of you guys dont like the idea it but its the truth (live within your means) if you have baggage in your life your SOL deal with it. go and enjoy your retirement or go to another state and try to get another retirement.
as for the people that are not retired keep an working and dont f*?& up. i am retired and i love (LOVE) every minute of it, for those officers that b**** alot grow up be glad you have a job open your eyes law enforcement officers are getting furlough or been laid off around the USA. i know you guys have a union but really? and i do mean REALLY? a union needs to help their people not make deals under the sheets. the time is here law enforcement is not untouchable, now think about that. PLEASE COMMENT and dont forget about the health care that was just passed Hmmmmmmmmm................
You've got to be kidding me! Is that why we always see two cop cars pulling over one car at a time? Can't one officer handle their job without assistance? I didn't know they were making that kind of money (working overtime). It appears we don't need as many officers trying to arrest people. Instead, we need cops working hours that truly keep the public safe. Perhaps some of these guys should be riding their bicycles. We can save gas money too. I rarely hear of anyone getting shot as we are told. I hear a lot about incarceration though. That being trimmed back could save us a lot of unnecessary spending! We should spend more on educating our children to do right than paying law enforcement to arrest them. Education is a better deal for our community and money better spent in the long run!
To you got to be kidding me: Try educating yourself on police work. You have no idea of risk to OFFICERS LIVES. I would really like to see you handle a hostile drunk. PS: TELL US MORE ABOUT PEACHES AND darrens LATEST LOSS IN FEDERAL COURT FOR VIOLATING YET ANOTHER OFFICERS RIGHTS.
Peaches drinks and drives apparently.
Darren's girl friend? go figure.
As for the civil rights violation law suits that Ray & Darren have cost the taxpayers over $1M.
Where in the hell is the accountability here. They should be fired , reprimanded or disceplined, or go back through the academy.
What an amateur.Goes from rookie to PD singer/crooner to Sgt.
That's it.
Now by way of politics,he's Czar of enforcement, political 'hackery' and civil rights violator.
What a joke. Your still a rookie.
Darren sure did lose another case in federal court. Same senerio as Ray in the last case. He was targeting a deputy. The deputy filed a lawsuit for retaliation, hostile work environment etc....apparently he was targeted for reporting corruption to Darren. They settled out of court before it went to trial so that all the criminal activity would not be brought to light by Darren and Company. No Word on how much the depity will get but he got promoted and will get his record expunged!!! Good for you Deputy!!!
Thats the old suit. Darren just settled a new one last week. How much did that one cost! We will find out Darren. I think Sal was involved in this one to. This one is the latest.
barboa drives drunk, arrest him!!
tds north!! or tp. he'll be there.
oh, and sorry martha.
Darren and TJ can TRY to spin the drop in DWI arrests, but the fact is, with no one to keep them drunk drivers in check, there WILL be an increase in accidents and deaths. Not even the greatest spin doctors in the world can explain that away.
You officers need to suck it up do your job and book the drunks. There is no excuse for a drop in DWI arrest numbers. Im sure your loved ones use these streets to get around.
They always settle lawsuits because the cost of going to trial. The question is how much was the settlement? If it was more than $50,000 then maybe there was merit to the lawsuit.
Leave things for Beth as noted above. Who is pushing her for the chief's job, her husband or someone high up in City hall? Go Girl! No doubt she would be the hottest chief in the state, but what about Banks. While on the issue how about Darren, he does not have Beth's legs but more time in front of the camera. Self love what a great thing,eh Darren.
I can see it now Beth "aka Wonder Women" to the rescue. In book form now but coming to a theater near you shortly.
Find a 47, take the keys and throw them in the bush and send him walking. Tell him if you find him looking for them tonight he's going in. Problem solved. A great ex-employee taught me that a long time ago.
I understand the city trying to save money. Seems like there are some little things that could be done to to help. How about officers stop leaving their cars running for 30 minutes as they are in briefing, hanging out in gas stations, responding to a call, or just not in them period.
Another how about dispatchers stop cross dispatching units way out of their beat unless its a high priority call. All the other junk can hold for the beat units. If the beat unit is milking the heck out of a call leave it up to their supervisor to be made aware of the call holding and what the beat unit is on and for how long.
Wonder how much could be saved in gas a year?
just suck it up & do your drunks! and while your at it get off the barboa topic again leave him alone hes untouchable!
What will happen when the cops are too busy making DWI arrests and no one is available to come save my life? The firefighters are going to start carrying guns? I hope so, because if I have no cops coming to my house when the people who threatened my life return, then I guess APD will pay out of pocket to compensate my family, which will be 100 times more then what they are trying to save.
I am sorry for killing a family when I drove drunk. I really wish there were people to stop me from doing that. I am now 56 years old, and I live with this regret everyday. I have not since drank alcohol. But for me to stop drinking and driving, it took the lives of two kids and their mother. I really wish the state would ban drunk drivers from ever being able to drive again. I am afraid to drive. I am sorry to the Gallegos family.
So last weekend when my home was entered by an armed robber who took my sons video game and ipod while we were eating in the kitchen and the cops showed up quickly and caught the guy. no one was hurt thank god but now they wont be able to catch these guys or prevent us from being hurt because now all of these bad guys know they have more time to do things because cops are going to be busy for a few hours!? what happened to our cops? we need them for things like this.
Say Thank You to Berry White and Shultz!!!!
how about looking at how the DWI officers are paid. They get to claim overtime in a whole different way than everyone else. IF they have court at 9 and 11, they get 4 hours, ... come on Ray Ray do your investigation
how about metro gets their shit together and stop calling officers to court for no reason. wow what a concept. how many times do you go to court just to show your face? how many times do you go to actually testify? thats the problem. its utterly ridiculous.
Throwing the keys in the bush used to be a great idea. Now you're setting yourself up for a lawsuit, because poor drunk driver got hurt while stumbling around looking for his keys, and it's the officers fault. Good luck getting Schultz to back you on that one. He's a wienie when it comes to supporting the line officers doing the work.
Ray & Darren cost the city $800,000 in the Castales case, last week i hear Darren blew another one at a cost of $300,000. That's $1,100,000.
Where the hell's the accountability or reprimand?
well if they have court at 9 & 11 of course they get 4 hours. so would any officer that had court at the same times so whats your problem? from 9 to 11 is two hours then from 11 to 1300 is another 2 hours for a total of four! am i missing something here? rookie get with your TO and have him explain it to you if your still confused.
what about the dwi sgt josh mcdonald. he gets overtime for doing nothing. look at his history. he works at nights on his days off and does nothing at all
Think about the legal aspect of the move. Many times the DWI officers show up 30-45 minutes AFTER the initial stop. That my friends is a de facto arrest and the only evidence that can be introduced in trial is why the original officer stopped them. That leads to many cases being thrown out.
Not to mention good defense lawyers impeaching the stopping officer by showing that they have gone through all of the DWI training and did not do the stop from beggining to end.
ok here i am rookie. 9-11 is not 4 hrs, there has to be a 30 minte break. look up the sop you idiot. regular officers get 9- to whenever hte 11 is over, so about 2 1/2 hours. dwi doesnt have to have the 30 minute.
Im laughing at anonymous above. Seems like YOU are the rookie. In order to get four hours, you have to have a half hour break between. For example, 9-11 is 2 hrs. IF you have court at 11, you only get paid from 9 to when you are done with 11, probably a little over two hours. TO answer your question, yes you are missing something- intelligence! Would you like a copy of the SOP if you are still confused, look at the contract too.
Update on Darren's latest loss...There were two deputies that filed the lawsuit so they have to pay both of them I hear its 380,000 each plus attny's fees AND their promotions and clearing their personnel file. When is someone gonna go in there and fire all these A**holes???
damn rookies acting like they are some kind of veteran knowing it all. only dwi officers get to violate the sop & are eligible for the 4 hours with no 30 minute break between. if you want in on that scam go to the unit. it looks like alot of them left that squad so there should be some openings soon.
Where do we find this information - I haven't read about in the newspaper or seen it on the news. Can you tell us the names?
You haven't seen it in the news or the newspaper for a reason. TJ, the former ace reporter for the Albuquerque Journal has things under control so you don't. Think about it, since TJ left, has the Journal reported anything negative about the APD?
barboa is untouchable: yuck, no self respecting man or woman would touch that. nasty little liar.
To the comment above, the two cops that just won the lawsuit against the criminal Darren are Lundsford and Medrano.
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