As you may have noticed from the comments left on this blog, Eye On Albuquerque enjoys a large law enforcement readership. Our Eyes over at APD tell us that it's no surprise that the Chief's job approval rating was so low... it mirrors the morale of APD's rank and file.
There are a number of reasons officers give for their dissatisfaction, but generally speaking it boils down to a feeling that the 5th floor is not treating them fairly. Take for example the case of Detective Sergeant John Guilmette.
Sergeant Guilmette worked as a supervisor in the Impact unit at APD. The Impact unit investigates just about every type of crime excluding homicides and rapes. On October 1, 2006, Detective Guilmette was deployed to Iraq.
(Sidebar)Sergeant Guilmette resumed his law enforcement career with APD July 2nd, after an 9 month deployment (that's 3/4 of a year to those of you on the 5th floor). His position in the Impact unit, that had been left vacant for almost his entire 9 month deployment, had just been filled. Since he held the rank of sergeant and is qualified to be a detective, Sergeant Guilmette requested to be assigned to any other detective unit.
It takes a special person to answer his country's call to arms. As hard as it is to be a police officer here in Albuquerque, it's infinitely harder to face brutal adversaries whose only objective is to kill you in the most graphic and highly visible manner possible. Terrorists make our worst gang-bangers look like small school children by comparison.
(End Sidebar)
Seems reasonable to us that an officer who is qualified to be a detective and holds the rank of sergeant should at the very least be returned to an equivalent position as a detective. In fact that's exactly what federal law says.
If you are eligible to be reemployed, you must be restored to the job andTo us this isn't the least bit ambiguous. Service men and women who are eligible to be reemployed (those serving for 5 years or less of cumulative service with a specific employer), must be returned to their job and benefits. Not only can you not be penalized for you absence, but job advancement is also required. The worst case scenario for a returning service man or woman is that they must be given a comparable job.
benefits you would have attained if you had not been absent due to
military service or, in some cases, a comparable job.
The brain trust on the 5th floor (specifically Deputy Chief Michael Calloway) didn't see it that way. DC Callway not only denied Sergeant Guillmette's request to be assigned to any detective unit, but he returned him to uniformed duty.
Now, uniformed sergeants make the same pay as detective sergeants. However, detective sergeants must be qualified through testing to become a detective sergeant. In other words, a uniformed sergeant can't just bid (the bid system allows officers to move from one position to another based on seniority) to be a detective sergeant. A detective sergeant can choose to enter the bid process and put his uniform back on.
Sergeant Guillmette of course contacted his attorney (What does it say when every officer has an attorney?) who contacted the city attorney's office. When asked about Detective Guillmette's case, the city attorney confirmed that APD must return Detective Guillmette to his job and subsequently notified APD and DC Calloway of the requirement.
Despite the notification by the city attorney's office and despite the very clear language in USERRA, DC Calloway refused to return Sergeant Guillmette to his position as a detective. To make matters worse, Sergeant Guillmette was subsequently assigned a vehicle with over 90,000 miles at a time when every other uniformed sergeant is being assigned brand new Chevy Tahoes. (Can you say reprisal?) Vehicles, like many things, are assigned on the basis of seniority and Detective Guillmette has over 20 years of service with APD.
Our Eyes tell us that the Chief's position is that a sergeant, is a sergeant, is a sergeant. With the additional requirements to become a detective sergeant that is clearly not true. In addition, the Eyes have it that there are detective sergeant slots available.
According to our Eyes, Detective Sergeant Guillmette contacted another veteran, Congresswoman Heather Wilson, for help today. It seems that he already has his attorney, the law, the city attorney (although don't expect them to admit it when their client gets charged with a USERRA violation), and hopefully his congresswoman on his side.
It's too bad that while Detective Guillmette was braving IEDs and terrorists in Iraq, that the 5th floor was busy stabbing him in the back at home. It's no wonder APD has a morale problem. They simply don't support their own troops.
----Editor's Note----
It has been called to our attention that we made two errors in the above post. The first, we referred to an 18 month deployment, which was actually 9. The second, lest we start taking ourselves too seriously - had Detective Guillmette braving enemy birth control in Iraq (IUDs), when in reality he was braving IEDs. We are currently unaware of any incidents where our troops were endangered by enemy IUDs. Both errors have been corrected in the above post. Sorry for the confusion and the unintentional humor.
The Eye
40 comments:
DAMN???????????????????????? Fight on bro. Take it to Chief Marty and his Deputy Chief Schultz.
What a joke..now APD has a Federal case...they won't give him his position back but yet they'll pay for tattooing make-up on the PIO Trish Hoffman...the entire senior leadership of APD should resign immediately, they are a joke!!!!
Wow. How completely and utterly dishonorable and disrespectful to this man who went and personally fought in a war. I'm really ashamed to say that I'm from albuquerque. I just moved her from portland, and wow.. To be cliche it's just very UN-American.
SHAME
Typical Callaway decision there... he always seems to try too hard to screw over detectives to prove how tough a commander he is
I've said this several times on this blog, Attitude is a reflection of leadership! I remember when I worked for the city in the mid-80's. APD had problems but the overall leadership was doing a decent job of looking after the troops. It was about the early to mid 90's when the leadership was changing, the attitude of leadership changed drastically. I along with everyone else started to see abusive management tactic's being used for whatever reason with no regard of decency or honor. As the years rolled and certian individuals were promoted,qualified or not to leadership roles, the bullying,animosity,retaliation and just the overall harassment and the creation and the perfection of the hostile work environment was born. Ever since not just APD but 90% of the other city departments followed this model. Now everyone wonder's or does not understand why their are so many disgruntled employee's ? It's simple, when you have management running wild doing whatever they want with NO accountability and total suport from their supervisor's,their you go.. JOHN keep your head up and hang in there,it's ashame that you have to deal with the TERRORISTS of APD so called brass after you served and I hope Congresswoman Wilson along with USERRA will put Cheese Dick I'm sorry Deputy Chief Calloway in his place. You've got the support of the city attorney, I know that aint sayin much but it's something. As I've allways said and I know I'm preaching to the choir,the City of Albuquerque government is not proactive their reactive and they only understand lawsuits....Take care John....
from what Ive been told, this is only the surface of the damage napolean callaway has inflicted on many officers since he became a ruler. I can only hope his atrocities are exposed, GET SOMEONE WITH SOME COMPASSION AND SENSE!
Lets not forget people, he has an online masters degree from the university of greater northern arizona polytech, that surely qualifies him to be a leader of police officers
What about a "Vote of NO Confidence"? It seems like whenever it comes up the Mayor and the Chief talk, and or intimidate or whatever they do to make it not happen.
I think It's time for the Mayor, the Police Chief, and the Fire Chief to all go AWAY. Let's not forget the lies about the Scameras, Unhappy officers of APD, and the crap the Fire Chief pulled when his brother was arrested for DUI. 2008 is not so far away. JUST VOTE PEOPLE!!
Was he really "braving IUDs"? Doesn't sound nearly as rough as IEDs.
Ooh Brother, like anyone with half a brain would believe this crap....This blog is out of control with it's lies. Can they prove this shit? Ask them to post the documents for all of us to read. There must be some? or are they publishing gossip again & trying to pass is off as journalism.
Did Callaway ever serve in the armed forces? Did Schultz, McCabe,or Castro? Did Martin Chavez? No wonder this City and APD have no respect for those in the military. Just a bunch of bureaucratic pencil pushing poodle boys. Where's the honor among real men anymore. Sell outs, the lot of them. How many real friends do they think they have. Friends(?) 5.
True/real friends(?) Absolutely NONE.
Why? 'Cause they eat their own and no one trusts one another. It's a good thing that the rank and file don't have to depend on them for back up or their wives would be widows.
It's TIME to put a END to the Mayor Chavez experiment. I hope everyone will see that his leadership and command is out of control maybe we can put him on inactive duty for awhile in 08'. Brad Winter doesn't look so bad after all does he ........???????
In any organization, there will ALWAYS be about 10% that are so disenchanted and so disgruntled that nothing will make them happy. I suspect APD is no different and that this forum is geared toward that 10%. That's why nobody is worried about these postings or recalls, in the end they will all fail. All of the honest, hardworking city employees know better than to believe this garbage and chalk these comments and this blog in that category. Go to work, get a job and if you don't like this one get a different one.....
Call me crazy but I think Ill just call John and ask him what of this is true
Call John? Heck call Mark Bralley or the "Eye" as he likes to be called. I bet he is in that category of the 10%. While your at it check with Joe & Paul....They are founding members of the 10% club n not just under this administration. They have been that way their entire lives & careers. Spent 20+ years bitching, eeoc-ing & suing their lives away saying "it's not fair" wwwhhhhaaaa Oh and don't forget the chief 10%er Alfred.....
Are you guys able to put these feelings away and work together when you have too? That doesn't just mean the officer/detectives but includes the command staff. It just sounds like there are a lot of jealous people around APD, at ever level. This is one thing Chief Schultz must attempt to fix. This is his organization and he needs to get everyone pulling together. The enemies are not fellow cops, but the criminals. Has everyone at APD forgotten that?
Not everyone has forgotten, only the 10%-ers.......
three comments above... sounds like you keep checking the eye and have no idea who on the fifth floor keeps letting the secrets out!!!!
What secrets?
The ones that will eventually lead to indictments and convictions.
Who the hell is Joe, Paul & Mark?
I was gonna say, 10%, not even close. As the comment says above 60/40. I would dare to say 75% are unhappy .
Even my liberial friends do not like the mayor/cheif of police, (since he seams to tell Schultz what to do and use APD for his own agendas) the assistant cheif Ray Schultz, and the rest of this misguided city leaders and companies. The reason for 60/40 is there are still so many people who do not care, they say " Oh every polotician is corrupt, that is just the way it is. Why worry about it when there is nothing we can do about it?" This attitude is BS, these people are elected by us to serve us, not themselves!
I agree, the APD leadership has gone down over the years. It now seems that everyone is in it for their own personal gain. No one seems to care about the troops anymore. Have they forgotten that when morale is down productivity goes down? The troops are the backbone of the organization and every effort should be made to improve their work environment and pay. It's a job that very few are now willing to take on, hence the recruiting problem. Also, the large amounts of officers leaving before they even hit their 20 years. This is a major clue, you have a problem that needs to be addressed!!
Sgt Guillette is a highly respected supervisor and served our country. Every effort should be made to place him back in his former position, they have done it for others. Treat others as you would like to be treated. The Chief and his staff should really look at this!
I think your rank and file and union must get with the APD admin and work to get pay and morale up!!!!!! If not, the APD will continue its downward spiral.
I know all about those two meatheads. There is nothing in them for the other guy....it's all about themselves & whats good for them & nothing else! As for the other poster who said he was going to contact John & verify what was being said....Did that happen? Can we get the Sgt to step forward & say all of the allegations listed on the "Lie" are true? Anyone can just post BS....Lets hear it from the horses' mouth.
As a citizen I think Chief Schultz needs to get everyone together and start working toward the same goal. I can't believe that APD works as a team after reading the media and this blog. It just seems like everyone at APD is at each other throats. I sure don't feel very safe. You guys need to get your act together.
Chief Schultz should work at improving his officers pay. He was just able to get he and his Deputy Chief's a 3.5 % raise. The DC's are now making $101,600.00. Not bad for a high school educations...
Even the cadets and 2nd class Ptm received the raise, but nothing for the guys that have been here year after year. Chief, put your 130,000.00 plus salary to work for your officers. Who know what rewards might come to you?
He has, his retired buddies who come back to inside jobs are making over $21 an hour. I have been here 5 years and am only making $19 an hour. I work the streets, most of them ride desks. This is unfair, but Schultz doesn't care.
re. Joe and Pauls defender -- no, I was one of the supervisors who cared about the troops.. and I never sued anybody to get to do it either. I took my lumps and soldiered on and took care of my guys. Joe is an absolute TOOL, low IQ, whiner, EEOC filing buffoon. Not to mention his "Acting sgt." time being used to qualify him for a promotion he was not eligible for. And no its not sour grapes - I got promoted ahead of him so he wasnt my competition --
The Chief got his Deputy Chiefs a 4% raise last year as well. Thats 7.5 % in two years. We have not seen any raise.
Your right, he takes care of his friends giving them desk jobs making more than 19 dollars an hour, which is a violation of the contact, but he doesn't care because he said he will be out of here by the time the unions actions are heard. Thats all his ex DC's did was screw up things when they were here, exp.....radio. the guy is a joke and now he is back making more than most of the guys in my squad.
The chief wonders why morale is way down....It's not rocket science Chief!
What Shultz and Marty don't seem to realize is that if they are not right with their employees, their employees will have no loyalty to them or the job. No loyalty to the management or the job means that EVERY SINGLE TIME any of the rank and file gets screwed, it reflects back on the city in the form of lawsuits, bad reputations, and lack of votes in the next election, or the amount of signatures raised by recall efforts. Wouldn't it just be easier to make things right for the employees? Look at companies that do things like give their employees perks, daycare, telecommuting, free cafeterias, gyms etc...people that work in places like that stay forever. There is pride in their job. Marty keeps saying that he is such a progressive mayor and he's done so much for the city. Does he not realize that one of the biggest employers in the city IS the city? That's alot of voters when you consider families and friends of the employees. This is not rocket science.
Schultz is politician not a real cop! most of the leaders of APD are bullies that think it is fun to pick on their officers and put them down instead of working on real issues and finding solutions to resolve the problems. they believe they are above their officers and the average citizens. APD will not change for the better with marty in charge, no matter who is the chief. this is one of the many reasons why myself and others have left the department. I do not know chief Schultz personally and quit apd before he came on, but i have heard all of the horror stories from friends and i am glad i left. so far the county leadership seems to back its officers and has less political issues to deal with, so officers can just do their jobs. Sheriff White is a real leader; strict, but fair, firm in his beliefs, to do the right thing for the community we serve. after all isn't that why we get into law enforcement, to protect and serve our community. keeping our family, friends, and community safe ? Please let all of us ( this especially means out of touch leaders and the cops abusing the authority bestowed upon us ) Remember we are here to protect and serve our community, not ourselves. like in the military: Duty, Honor, Courage, Respect: to do what is right for our country, state, city, community, one another, and ourselves. We are public servants hear to serve the community , not our city leaders or ourselves. So please stop the fighting amongst the ranks, it is only making us all look bad! What has happened to the days when people would go up to a cop and ask for directions, about our jobs, or just say thanks?
It is to bad that their is all this in fighting. It was never like this in years pasted. APD has becaome a political corrupt dept. Politics control the day to day operations. The pasted union members have even sold out, Lawerence Torres case in point. He used to be on the side of the troops, then he became corrupt, selling his soul for the dollar. He now is in a job where Marty pays him way more than he is worth. He makes about 80,000. a year and all this with a high school education, even though his job description requires a degree. He is now one on Marty's minions. So much for APD. He never even went to the Academy because he did not pass the background. Marty and Bakas lateraled them all in just for numbers. What a joke we have become over politics.
Castro did serve in the Military and he was deployed in support of our Country and when he came back his current job was filled and he was re-assigned. That being said I agree John should have been put back in the position if it was available.
With Whinning & bitching like that maybe the good Sgt was in fact fighting off IUD's...... :o)
YOU USE BRIN ON THE ROAD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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Hey Bro Woodrow....I got ur IUD right here bitch. I liked you better when you didn't whine & complain so much. Tell your mommy to add a little powder to your diaper & maybe you won't be so grumpy....
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