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

Apr 25, 2011

Sheriff’s Department Mimic Keystone Kops

The Eye was taken aback by the action of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department during a recent police pursuit. As reported in the Journal (see here) convicted felon Roy Holliday failed to stop for deputies earlier in the day. A second attempt to apprehend Holliday failed when Undersheriff Ron Paiz blocked an escape route on a dead-end street that Holliday went down. This is when the “Keystone Kops” routine started.


Paiz was in an unmarked Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department vehicle. The article does not state if Paiz was in uniform or recognizable as a law enforcement officer. Taking into account that Holliday is and has been a convicted felon for some time, the probability of another criminal looking for Holliday is highly probable, not-with-standing, law enforcement. When Paiz responded and set up what appears to be a possible “roadblock,” at the mouth of a road that dead ended. Paiz waited for Holliday to return to the mouth of the street to exit the area. This is where Holliday tried to escape and where Paiz’s vehicle was hit. The alleged “ramming” of Paiz’ vehicle lead to a police pursuit. The Journal article claims that Paiz was not hurt and his vehicle only sustained minor damage.


There are several issues that come into question:


Did Holliday mistake Paiz’s vehicle as a regular car and not a police car, since it was not marked?


Did Holliday mistake Paiz for a “regular Joe” and not a law enforcement officer?


When Paiz obstructed Holliday’s’ path, did Paiz leave an avenue of escape for the offender which is mandated by case law?


After Holliday fled, did Holliday pose an on-going and continuous threat to life or peril to the public?


Was this perceived threat or actual threat monitored constantly to see if it was appropriate to terminate the pursuit?


Was this pursuit simply hurt feelings?


Doesn’t “ramming” another vehicle cause significant damage?


If Holliday was not worthy of a continuous pursuit earlier, what gave legitimate rise for the Sheriff’s Department to initiate this pursuit?


Shouldn’t a supervisor have realized the flaws and immediately called off the pursuit? Shouldn’t have Undersheriff Paiz called it off?


The media like the Journal enjoys coining key words such as, police “chase.” Children “chase” each other; police officers engage in pursuits to apprehend criminals. This is a huge difference.


Sheriff Houston should be applauded for his actions up to this point. Houston has raised the Sheriff’s Department from the dust and rubble to a higher level of professionalism that was left behind by Darren White. However, Sheriff Houston should ensure that his department adhere to the standard custom and practices amongst the law enforcement community. This pursuit does not appear to meet the standards that the public feels comfortable with and should be investigated. Pursuing a person who is no longer a threat for fifteen minutes during rush hour traffic is absolutely insane. This case has vicarious liability written all over it. If a pursuit is legitimate and bona fide; the community will always stand by law enforcement.


The public already knows that it is useless to file an I.A. complaint on an issue such as this one. White and Baragiola had a standing policy about I.A. (Internal Affairs) Investigations; if they liked you, no investigation no matter how serious the offense. If you were not liked, J walk and you’re fired! That is not public perception, it’s the truth.


Sheriff Houston will have to break out the shovel to clean up all the shizzle that White left behind. Trutouch was only one mess White left for Houston; there will be more to come like the mess with the Sheriff’s Departments’ I.A. Unit. Sheriff Houston should release the radio dispatch tapes of this pursuit to the public in order to maintain public trust and confidence, and to prove transparency.

43 comments:

Anonymous said...

My following comment is not on point to this article, however, I do have something to say about BCSO deputies in general, since you opened the door on the Sheriff's dept. I live in an unincorporated area of Albuquerque, also known as Carnuel. I want to personally thank the deputies that are on constant and vigiliant patrol up & down Old Rte. 66 day and night, every day. Their presence is commendable and noticeable, I feel more secure living out there knowing they are literally right there if I call. I never saw such a presence from APD when in lived in the City. Never did I feel like APD was just a call away, never. You can drive up and down the strees of Abq. and never see a patrol car. Thanks BCSO for your deputies out in Carnuel/Tijeras Canyon area!

Anonymous said...

Not sure why the public has jumped on this Sheriff's bandwagon, there is no difference in this admin, as compared to any that have been in place for as long as I can remember. There is a large amount of cronyism going on here, with policies being rewritten to allow for advancement of select personnel with insufficient time in grade to promote. Same stuff, different people.

Anonymous said...

Sometimes you just need to do police work and put the bad guy behind bars doing he best one can to be safe for all concerned. Ease up.

Anonymous said...

Might I add, 11:27, you can apply your logic to ANY city dept.

Anonymous said...

Article did say that the Undersheriff was in Uniform. Ramming a police car, or any other car constitutes a violent felony...as long as it is not officer induced jeporday. What is the consequence of letting someone like this go today and chancing him killing someone tomorrow. There is a fine line and seems it was not crossed here.

Anonymous said...

Looks as if Paiz may of messed up, but compared to what is going on at APD i'll take the Sheriff Department anytime. We will see if Sheriff Houston follows through with Trutouch or Will he let White walk yet once again.

Anonymous said...

Come on EYE.....there are better things to cover with all the BS going on in APD and BCSO. I don't get your angle on this one. Maybe the chase went too long? Maybe someone should have called it off? This type of thing happens everday in law enforcement. Officers trying to catch an offender versus all the internal corruption seem out of place to me.

And to the post at 6:47....Paiz isn't double dipping. He shut down his pension when he went back, or at least that is what was said.

Anonymous said...

Paiz did not mess up and is not a double dipper. Don't let the haters at APD spread their cancer to BCSO.

Anonymous said...

Glad Paiz went after this POS scumbag. Good job. Another POS off the streets for a while. Good job BCSO.

Anonymous said...

Let me see if I understand this. A person completes a successful career, retires and collects a pension that he has paid into, earned and deserves. That person (because of his skills and abilities) is hired to preform a new job. He is collecting a pension from which he is entitled and is collecting a salary from his new job. Why the hell is that looked down upon disparagingly as a "double dipper"?

Anonymous said...

3:11,

You must be a double dipper. Get over it, the state will never bring back double dipping. When you say "skills and abilities" why don't you just say, "politically connected". There is not one double dipper who's job could not be done by a new worker. The double dippers have harmed PERA and the public perception, through their greed. We are about to lose our 20 year retirement because of double dipping. I hope the next legislative session sunsets the 1000 double dippers who are left

Anonymous said...

Normally I agree with the eye on most issues, but I have to disagree here. Yes, there were mistakes in that pursuit and the fact that the driver was a known subject, they could have let him go, gotten an arrest warrant and served it on him later. The UnderSheriff has brought a much needed morale boost to the Department. He is the Yin to Sheriff Houstons' Yang. I will take him over Darren and Sal any day of the week. He still bleeds P.D. blue, but is quickly learning why we wear Tan.
So we will stand by him on this issue and if you want to call us Key Stone Cops, that's Key Stone Cop Sir to you!... But I forgive you eye....

Anonymous said...

this sheriff does not support the troops. im afraid that the on duty supervisor (who is still pretty new) is going to take it in the shorts for not canceling a pursuit that the undersherff was involved in. if anything, the ranking member of the department involved in the incident should step up and take responsibility for the whole mess, but unfortunately he probably is unaware that he was operating outside policy. he doesnt know the policy.

Anonymous said...

Sheriff Houston should be applauded? For what? Promoting members of the department to command positions because they belong to his church? Because they contributed to his campaign? Even though there were highly competant persons already in line for promotion prior to his swearing in that he threatened to fire if they accepted the promotion that they rightfully earned. Houston preaches transparency and honesty and fairness but practices the same backdoor politics that plague government everywhere.

Anonymous said...

Re: Glad Paiz went after this POS scumbag. Good job. Another POS off the streets for a while. Good job BCSO.

What kind of idiot are you? Condoning the Sheriff's Dept. racing around during rush hour traffic and placing everyone's lives in danger because the undersheriff got his car bumped and his feelings hurt? Bad Idea! Bad job!

I hope when a crash occurs that no one is KILLED because of negligence on the behalf of BCSO. This "scumbag" will walk on any charges that resulted from the pursuit; due to all the violations of policy and law. No one wants these “scumbags” on our streets but the cops must follow the rules; period.

Anonymous said...

Today's Albuquerque Journal reports that Under-sheriff Ron Paiz has received a letter of reprimand for this actions. The article went on to say that Ron Paiz requested the reprimand. In short, he acknowledged he screwed up and needs to take a hit for his actions. I commend the Under-sheriff for standing up and being responsible. I also commend the Sheriff's office for resolving the matter expeditiously.

Now had this happened with an APD officer, the investigation would have lasted months, the offending officer would have lawyered up, likely at union expense, would never admit wrongdoing and the chiefs of police,White and Schultz, would be playing the three monkey routine.

A thumbs up to Bernalillo County Sheriff and the Under-sheriff.

Anonymous said...

what exactly does a letter of reprimand mean for the second in command of an LE agency? Nothing as far as Im concerned. Just another ploy by these guys to show the public how stand up they are, meanwhile behind the closed doors of politics, they are as dirty as everyone else.

Anonymous said...

Eye you are way off here! I know Paiz and he is a stand up guy as demonstrated by his insistence that he receive a reprimand. You would never see Ray Boy admitting to his errors. I fully support he sheriff's department for their work!

Anonymous said...

Beth Paiz for chief!!!

Anonymous said...

1:01,

Good point. I know within the military a letter of reprimand is a career killer especially for commissioned officers. But in the civilian world, like the police, it probably means little. Small organizations typically are "who you know or who you blow" anyway.

Anonymous said...

RE 3:16 Keep up the PR Ron!

Anonymous said...

Did Ray Ray reprimand himself for being found guilty of violating Sam Costales civil rights? NOOOOOOOOOOOO he didn't.

Anonymous said...

Heard Debbie O'Malley is calling Darren White out. After Monday night's smackdown, I think she wants to kick his ass in an alley.
Any bets out there? I'll put my money on Debbie O'Malley any day of the week. She will whip his ass up and down the civic plaza. You go girl!

Anonymous said...

Man this guy is really pulling the wool over your eyes. This pursuit did not follow sop, if someone would have been killed (a civilian,the offender,or a deputy) there would have been civil lawsuits flying everywhere! A letter of reprimand for a guy who is in a temporary position? Are you freaking kidding me? If a deputy would have done this he would have been looking at much much worse,and I know all of you guys who read this know that as a fact. If you think Houston is any better than what we had before talk to some guys in the department see what they say:)

Anonymous said...

Ray got called out as well by Ken Sanchez for his role as second fiddle for the PD.
Nick Bachas & Pete Dinelli never interfered with the PD or Schultz.
This position that Darren has should just not be. He's more of a hindrance than a help. Ray don't want him around. City council: get rid of this position, this liability,this worthless taxpayers sink hole. Darren is an incompetent that will keep bungling things and costing taxpayers millions.Why does he need a personal secretary and while we're at it get rid of TJ Wilham. Just what the hell does he do? Still fetching Darren's lunch, just with a different title
Oh by the way, I heard he isn't participating in the E-85 program; after all his car needs to perform at the highest level to fetch sandwiches, while the rest of PD fleet has under-forming cars because they are mandated to pour that crap into their tanks.
Ask Lou Hoffman and Darren who's palms are getting greased with that deal?
Get rid of A-hole.

Anonymous said...

Here's the best use of city funds I've seen in a long time. Let's take detectives, officers, sergeants, lieutenants, commanders, and deputy chiefs out of their daily responsibilities and pick up trash. Nevermind all of the the community service sentences that are given out to do this job, nevermind this bullshit of "albuquerque coming home", nevermind this bullshit of having cops do police work, let's all pickup transient shit, tear down their camps, and waste time.

Call it like it is: A lame PR stunt. What a mickey mouse department this place has become. Shouldn't surprise me though...took forever for the cops to find a naked and injured dude who hijacked an ambulance Thursday night.

Anonymous said...

Military letter of repimand a career killer especially for officers? What military is this? Discipline in the military is an informative and corrective action. Progressive discipline could lead to ending a career somewhere down the road, a ways down the road. Colin Powell has openly talked of discipline he received in his career...look how it ended. Dont comment on things you have no first hand knowledge of.

Anonymous said...

I agree, why put Chiefs, Commanders, and Lt's and Officers out to clean trash! Would'nt they be better off fighting crime?

What did this PR stunt cost the City of ABQ. How much and hour does a Chief and CMDR make to pick up trash 45-51 and hour.

Did the Mayor and Daren White pick up trash, or just for the camera and then leave as usual!

Why don't they have inmates pick up trash? That labor is free!

Even solid waste workers who make maybe 15 an hour would be money better spent!

If this City is in dire straights, why is the Mayor and Daren White doing PR stunts with very high paid executive employees?? This cost loads of money folks!

Anonymous said...

To: UnderSheriff Ron Paiz

Thanks for the gym equipment at the subs, it was money well spent on the troops that will get alot of use, It's about time we had someone in the Brass who actually thought about us and not just the helicopter. Also thanks for working so hard to get the rifle clases through, something that also seemed to be delayed so we could keep funding a helicopter that is never up. Keep up the good work don't worry about this very minor hicup. All this will pass.

Anonymous said...

Undersheriff Ron Piaz made an error in judgement. Thank God no one was injured. I must say that he did the right thing and took what was coming to him as far as discipline. Sheriff Houston did the right thing and did what a leader needed to do. Houston imposed discipline on Piaz. This is so much different than A.P.D.. Ray and Darren do whatever they want,guilty of civil rights violation, trutouch, T.J.. The list of their misconduct goes on and on and it is over looked by Berry. But if an officer makes an honest mistake, Ray is all over that officer like a pile of bricks. I would really like to hear how the rank and file at the Sheriff Department feel about their new leader.We know how the rank and file feel about the leadership at A.P.D..

Anonymous said...

10:36 poster,

I know well what I'm talking about. I'm a retired army soldier. A letter of reprimand that is forwarded for enclosure in one's personnel file ends promotions if you happen to be an officer or senior enlisted NCO. I watched it happen more than a few time over my 22 year career.

Anonymous said...

Did White and Berry pick up trash? Just wondering. What a waste of taxpayer money.

Anything to get on TV, these guys are way worse than Mayor Chavez. I hope Mayor Chavez runs again, he did so much for our city. White and Berry are just in it for themselves and their friends.

Whatever happened to Tru Touch, are they investigating it, or was it sweeped under the carpet to protect White. How can these guys keep getting away with this stuff?

Someone should send the case to the Federal Govt.

Anonymous said...

To the soldier at 12:33,

That me be how it works in the miltary, but his is civilian law enforcement. A letter or reprimand, hell even days off mean nothing.

Anonymous said...

As a member of BCSO I will tell you how I feel about this administration. Mostly clueless. Houston is running around changing things just to say he is making changes. Most of the changes are uneeded or poor. But he will tell you that he is making progress. Progress toward what is the question. Houston is stubborn and closeminded and does not accept input before making rash decisions. Houston is rewarding campaign contributors and church members with kickbacks and promotions but what can you expect from a politician. Houston knows his political base, and panders to them (Northeast Heights), but doesnt care about the poorer neighborhoods where people traditionally dont vote. Paiz seems to have the members of the department best interest in mind, but doesnt seem to know how to implement his ideas, or cannot get them by Houston (go figure). Department morale is at a 10 year low as the rank and file do not feel supported by adminstration. We have solid foundation to the lieutenant rank and above that, not so much.

Anonymous said...

12:33, As an Active Duty officer with over 20 years I can say with utter certainity that I have never given a letter of reprimand. I have given numerous counselings and Article 15s. The Article 15s carry a bite and can...but not always...end a career. They will likely for an Officer. But a letter of reprimand...no different from a counseling in that you can not flag someone from promotion solely on that...as far as a career ender....maybe as an O5 or higher. Soldiers are expected to make mistakes and part of the process is the documentation and education, then they go on to do better or they continue to screw up and are forced out.

Anonymous said...

Houston is running BCSO into the ground! He can care less about the rank and file. I wish Florida would take him back!

Anonymous said...

Well, when is the last time any upper brass has received any type of discipline? I can't think of one single time in my 15 years! We all know that the brass does violate policy often, but I have never seen anything ever happen, no verbals, letters or days off. It's always sweaped under the carpet until we all forget about it. Then it just goes away. Right or wrong, you can't fault a guy for admitting he was wrong. First time I have ever seen it.

Anonymous said...

Publicity stunt. PR bullcrap. When was the last time you saw a deputy go to the media and asked to be written up because he was such an upstanding guy?

Anonymous said...

Who knows for sure, maybe, mabe not.

Anonymous said...

I don't think it was a PR Stunt, but at least our policy was changed.... The bureaucrat we had as a sheriff the last 7 years was worthless and lazy...At these these guys are making some change...

Anonymous said...

Making change for the sake of changing things is not progress. Making change when needed is. Let us know how your next pursuit goes when you are chasing a suspected 47 and it turns out they are not. They crash and hurt someone, but no alcohol or drugs on board. Youre not covered under the policy because they are not 47. Sucks to be you and your discipline letter or days off for violating policy.

Anonymous said...

Looks like Houston is taking Rahm Emanuel's advice by not letting a good crisis go to waste. News reports are saying BCSO officers now have increased authoritah as to when they can instigate hot pursuits. WTF!!!!

Anonymous said...

Our policy needed to be changed, as the last administration tied our hands. At least it is the norm with most other departments now!