"According to the data, the metro area per capita ranks in the top 10 percent for violent crimes, which include murder, rape and robbery. And the metro area ranks in the top 13 percent for property crime, such as auto theft and burglaries."These latest stats didn't surprise us because we've been telling you for some time that APD is facing a manpower crisis; one that despite all of the money spent on recruiting, isn't going away. Just last week APD recruiters were up in Appleton, Wisconsin testing for new recruits.
"The Albuquerque Police Department is casting its net far and wide, looking to keep the rapidly expanding Southwestern city adequately staffed with law enforcement.Folks, that is what you call spin. It's true Albuquerque is a rapidly growing city with our population now said to be over 800,000, but growth isn't the only reason our police department is lagging behind. APD seems incapable of closing the gap between the number of sworn officers we have and the number we should have.
Now it's coming to northeastern Wisconsin.
Deputy Chief Michael Castro said the department has 1,033 officers and is looking to hire another 67 by the end of the year."
Back in May, the Journal ran an article that claimed the department had grown nearly 12% since 2002 and that the number of officers over at APD was 998 (Subscription). Our Eyes took issue with the 998 number and informed us that the number was really closer to 800 (read it here). Now Deputy Chief Michael Castro tells thenorthwestern.com that APD has "1,033 officers and is looking to hire another 67 by the end of the year."
Again our Eyes are taking issue with the numbers being given to the press claiming that the number of sworn officers over at APD is somewhere between 814 and 828. In addition, the Eyes have it that day shift officers are being ordered not to go to court because manpower levels are so low that they need them on the street rather than in court. Just guess what happens when an officer doesn't make it to court.
APD has repeatedly refused to provide a list of sworn and non-sworn personnel and their departmental assignments; even to city councilors. As a result, it's almost impossible to verify their force strength numbers. When you consider the fact that the Almighty Marty, Chief Schultz, and the rest of the 5th floor have developed a reputation for cookin' the books, it's hard to believe any statistics without supporting documentation.
The fact of the matter is APD doesn't have enough sworn officers on the force and on the streets. You don't need to look any deeper that today's Journal article to find proof of that fact. Out of 349 metropolitan areas - 43rd in murder, 51st in rape, 74th in robbery, 32nd in aggravated assaults, 58th in burglaries, 95th in larcenies, and where we really excel - 17th in auto theft.
Chief Schultz's reaction, "I feel safe." Let's see here... he carries a gun, a badge, and a radio; and oh yeah, he's the CHIEF OF POLICE! Even more annoying, infuriating and just plain funny is that he blames Albuquerque's poor ranking on us!
"Schultz said the FBI statistics are misleading because Albuquerque residents tend to report crime more often than residents from other cities.What?! We're talking about violent crime here. Chief Schultz can't seriously expect us to believe that violent crimes go unreported in other cities and that somehow our poor showing is the result of over-reporting violent crime. We're not sure what's more frightening, the crime statistics or a Chief that would actually expect us to believe that the FBI numbers are somehow inflated because of us.
"This is not a dangerous place," Schultz said. "This is a place in which people take crime very seriously and will report it when it occurs.'"
Remember folks, it's all up to you. The next time your stabbed, raped, assaulted, burgled, or come across a dead body... whatever you do don't, call the police to report it or Albuquerque will continue to be a dangerous place to live.
53 comments:
Ray is the MASTER of spin!
Gee, is this a huge stake to the heart of the problem, better yet the 'Heart of the Heights'.
Yes, how ridiculas, that most people did catch that in the newspaper.
What, are we stupid or something?
Yeah the crime stats are way up because the people REPORT more crime here than anywhere else.
First of all, NOT TRUE, most people donnot report thefts, prowlers, attempted break ins, etc. I know. Now of course you will have to report if you go to the hospital to get a bullet removed. Or if your car gets stolen, you're gonna have to at least tell your boss why you're not at work. Now of course in the case that God forbid you get murdered, damn it, don't file a police report so our numbers look bad. As for manpower levels, the Eye is right. 5 to 6 cops can't hanle an entire area command on any given night; but they might if you people stop reporting violent crimes.
.....and Castro? Yeah he's telling the truth.Unless their counting those retired since 2005.
Hey "EYE" read the entire article. The statistics were based on not just Albuquerque, but included all of Bernalillo County, Torrence County, Sandoval County and Valencia County. So if you want to blame APD better include the other LE jurisdictions that have control in those respective areas. The Sheriffs Departments of each county, the NM State Police, Rio Rancho, Belen, Bernalillo PD, Los Lunas, etc...
Well of course the Chief is gonna feel safe, he lives in Tanoan!!!. I dunno though if I was the Chief I wouldn't feel to safe, he might strangle himself on those puppet strings Uncle Marty is pulling.
On a positive spin,,,The Mayor is just adding nails to his political coffin. Thank Uncle Marty!!!
A couple of posts up, I don't think there's blame being put forward against APD for the fine showing our city is having in yet another crime stat report. If anything, including the surrounding counties in the report lowers the crime level because, as we all know, the Albquerque MSA is a train wreck in terms of safety and crime reduction.
The chief is doing the only thing he can do, make the nightmare look pretty. He's quick to downplay negative aspects of the report but equally quick to draw praise for those elements of the report that show reductions. Too obvious. DCOP Castro can "only be optimistic" for recruiting numbers because anything else sends him packing.
Where is the APOA "union" leadership??? As usual laying low and keeping quiet. Well guess what, wait till contract negotiations come up next summer if they don't get opened up earlier....
Albuquerque is a great place to live. The MEDIA is doing everything it can to make all of us look like idiots. Albuquerque is unsafe, violent, too expensive, polluted, too many taxes, etc..... The media should be ashamed of itself. Starting with the paper and Villanucci himself. Talk about some of the good stuff that is going on. Everyday there are acts of kindness and goodness that occur all across town.
The jail is full is it not? Who put those bad people there? The men and women of Law Enforcement. Who wants to let them out? In the same paper that slams the crime rate and the police there is an article on letting criminals out? There is your Blog! There is your talk show topic! There is real news.
the one above, must work for the mayor.
the chief is addressing the positive aspects and the deputy chief is being quiet to keep his job. What bullshit! If they do not have the intestinal fortitude to stand up for what is right then they should resign! To be quiet to in support of the Mayor and to keep thier jobs is a disservice to the community and those that are real law enforcement officers patroling the streets. Shame on them, the Mayor's office, and the public for allowing this to occur!!!!
FYI. Ray does not live in Tanaon.
He'd catch too much hell from the residents there.
"To be quiet to in support of the Mayor and to keep thier jobs is a disservice to the community and those that are real law enforcement officers patroling the streets"
Welcome to promotion by attrition.
Sorry folks but it's time to point out the obvious with your department. Maybe some of your policy makers at City Hall will read this, this city can only hope so.
You don't have enough officers out on patrol being visible that meets any quantitative standard. Also your department is way over-specialized. Thus to deal with the manpower issue right now you've got to reduce/eliminate some of your specialty units and send those folks to patrol. Offer incentives or by reverse seniority but its time to flood the streets with patrol. People won't like it but that's the hard truth. I'd love to see the numbers of officers that do things besides uniformed patrol against those out on the street. My guess is that more than 50% of your officers work "inside". That is bad policy.
If in fact crime is on the increase, you're not going to reduce it by solving cases. You're going to reduce it by suppressing it. And the only way you're going to suppress it is being visible and being proactive.
Which units to reduce??? You guys on the street tell us because you are the core element. Last time I checked my taxes don't go to the Albuquerque Bureau of Investigation.
Chief Schutz knows nothing of running the officers in the field. He was promoted to Lt and went stright into the crime lab where he stayed for years. That's why the evidence room was in such poor shape. He's was the guy running it!
Once he left the crime lab. Schultz went to the academy as a Lt. He was then promoted to capt while he was assigned at the academy where he stayed for a brief time, 8 months before being promoted to deputy chief of field services. That's right, in charge of the field officers with no FIELD experience at all!!!!!!!
Everyone saw how bad the evidence room was as a Lt, and the field was under his command as a deputy chief, and now he is chief!
Guess what, look at how bad the morale and the dept has become under his poor leadership!!!!!!
No one needs to say anything other than to look at the state of affairs with the APD!!
This is a true travesty of justice for the officers and citizens of Albuq. They deserve much better.
Excuse me, but the only morale problem is with the very small minority of officers like YOU. The Chief is holding people accountable for their improper, immoral and less than stellar performance. There are a few people like you who dont like being held accountable. I for one am extremely proud of the department and the job he is doing. He has been the only Chief in years that has stood up to the union, their attorneys and the loud mounths of the department. He is making officers do what we pay them to do. WORK!!!!!!!!!!!! We do not pay our taxes and inturn officers to sit around and do nothing. You get paid to do a job, not complain because the chief is making you actually do something. Finally, a leader who understands that City employees should do what we pay them to do.
Chief, Right On !!!!!!! Keep them working and fire the the ones who won't.
...I'd like to think my tax money goes towards the pay check of people who not only write with proper grammar and syntax but occasionally use their spell check.
I agree Chief, can the deadbeats!
Ron you live in the county?
Four posts up, DC, you don't need to kiss up to Chief Schultz or donate money to the Mayor anymore, as you have kissed and paid your way to the top!
I Still see that you are on this site on city time. That is a violation of policy, right?
Anyhow, your job is safe, so quit sucking up! It makes us sick.
To your credit, your 911 speech was pretty good.
5 posts up. Yep your are right the Chief Schultz is holding officers accountable, sic. If you are a state certified police officer and you commit a felony crime and get fired by your department Chief Schultz will hold your feet to the fire by hiring you at APD. Chief Schultz will sit on the State Certification Board and make sure you keep your certification so he can hire you after the New Mexico State Police fire you. Now do you really believe the crap you are tossing out that he holds officers accountable?
Boy does he make the officers work. Retired rehires working on computers, sitting at the shoot range and the list goes on and on. How many officers are working Valley on dayshift on some days? SEVEN! Those guys are working.
So I would really like to see the DCOP defend these two examples.
Holding people accountable by terminating employment, that's the best you can offer??? Is that really the hallmark of this command, "we fire people". That is fucking impressive.
Try leadership 101...bring something to the table each time you take something away. I love seeing shithead officers getting fired but recognize and reward the troops that are doing their job, remaining loyal, and making sacrifices for this department. Be a leader!!!
WOOOOOOO..... your breaking ranks RANGER........!!!!!! Did you just think like a True Leader and, speak like one as well? You better be careful the Mayor (Chief of Police) Chavez and the his DC Shultz will not stand for Free Thinkers! You might get fired.
...that's alright we're not going to forget when he runs again for yet another term as mayor as the cold hard reality sets in and he realizes he's just an amateur politician and doesn't have the skills nor charisma to be a national player.
APD i e concerns over public safety will never swing any election. Wake up we are only important you ourselves. The majority of citizens never come into contact with police or with crime for that matter so they think we are just a bunch of whiners when we point out how bad things are.
Albuquerque police will never sway any election. Now the red light cameras just might.
The red light camera will ,as well as the immigration issues. Those issues also paired with the smoking ban should all have major impacts on the next election.
Marty is dead in the water for governor, and he knows it. So, he will try for mayor again, just so he can try and have a political career. It will be up to everyone to end his politicial asperations.
He has lost his biggest support group for mayor in this city, the Republicans. You guessed it, that's what gives him the win.
I agree about the red light cameras being a campaign killer...but with the property crime rates, violent crime rates, etc affecting so many people at their own homes and the neighborhoods in which they live...that can be a deciding factor. Talk to anyone you know and they can relay a story about how they were victimized, how their neighbor was vicitmize, or that they know the victim of the rising crime rate in the city. Yes...between 2005 and 2006 the crime rates did fall a bit, but they did nationwide. Wait until the numbers for 2006 to 2007 are released, then will be the time to count the beans. When Albuquerque enters the top 10 in auto thefts, when our homicide rate is higher, and violent crime rate supercedes that of 2005....that will be when the citizens of the city will start crying out. Officers in this departmet are well trained and hardworking, but simply reactive instead of proactive. More boots on the ground will allow the calls to be answered in a timely manner and will free up resources to proactively patrol neighborhoods. Recruiting will remain at a standstill, with the intake equalling the outgoing retirees and laterals to other departments, until the department and city decide to become competitive with the surrounding agencies. With the nearby departments offering $5 per hour for patrolmen, why do more work for less money, same benefits, and same retirement. The logic seems to be too obvious or complicated for the mayor to fathom. The problem with public safety is the same with education, the politicians do not get anything tangible (family crisis center, events center, dog parks, reflecting pool, extreme sports park, trolley, etc) to show for the money that is invessted. Politicians simply want a showpiece to display "how hard they have worked for the citizens". Improving quality of life begins with public safety and education, however those will remain deficient until the citizens call for it.
The mayor and chief need to stop denying the problem, glossing it over, and admit that it is a serious issue that needs to be addressed.
Of course APD as an entity couldn't sway any election...out of less than 1000 officers maybe 100 will vote this week. But if you think public safety isn't going to be THE issue in the next mayoral race, just watch. The variable of "crime" in this city is an impediment to continued economic growth and the players on Wall Street that back and underwrite muni-bonds are going to require that this place gets things in order.
Besides, I'm sure the people who were victims of a recent home invasion and shooting have very large concerns over public safety. As do the family members of the double murder this New Year's morning. These are not crack heads getting caught in crime...these are citizens being victimized. This will not be tolerated and public safety will be a primary issue.
CHIEF SCHULTZ,,,I just wanted to thank you and the mayor for selling us down the river. You apologized to the protestors, saying your officers were wrong. Thanks for standing by and supporting us once more!! Your job seems to be more important to you than your officers.
You stated in the paper that a capt needed to be there at the protest. Well, you had Lt Geier there on scene as a LT running everything, even though you told the paper only a SGT was there.
Then you promoted Lt Geier to CAPTAIN about a week and a half later. Tell me sir, did that week and a half make him more of a capt than when he was on the scene that day. I think not! Lt Geier is a very good leader and would have done everything the same, even a week or so later.
So, stop with your Bull Shit, as we can all see through it a mile away. The paper may believe you, but we don't!
We wish you and your 5th floor would treat us with the respect we deserve!!!!!!
While you at it, trying paying us like the professinal force we are. You and your DCOP's are paid extremely well, well over $100,000. each.
What about us????
APD will see a good raise, but the mayor is going to hold off as long as he can, so he can get it close to the election. He hopes that by giving the officers a raise close to the election, it will buy him votes.
The money that the city council came up with for the officers, he will hold onto and use that as part of the raise also. It will give the appearence of a big raise that he gave.
If you look back, that is exactly what he did the last time when he left office.
Public safety is important, but it has never and will never swing any election. Most citizens just don't give a crap. Just look at APS, there is an issue the effects most people and at the last meeting to help pick a new superintendent there was maybe 10 citizens there. APATHY folks.
The next contract will be to bring the younger officers up to $21.07. There will be a token raise for everyone, maybe 1% if a one year contract, maybe more for two years. This mayor plays the APOA like a fiddle. The officers have no stroke because they choice not to get involved. I think the APOA should close shop expect to represent officers that are being disciplined. Just take what the mayor and chief give us. That is what will happen anyway.
Like I said, amateur hour on all counts. I can see Marty now at the podium spouting off like he fought to give this, that, and everything for the officers including dismissal of folks on the 5th floor for deceiving him in thinking everything was grand!!! Won't that be a hoot! Watch it fellas things tend to swing both ways...
Hey check out this article about Chicago Police. Maybe Chief Schultz cans start recruiting from their ranks. He seems to like cops that commit felony's and get fired from their old departments. We could probably get up to 1100 officers by December if Chief Schultz runs right up to Chicago and posts bail for these officers.
http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070930/ap_on_re_us/police_scandals_1
Keep it going Ray, can the deadbeats on APD. There is enough deadwood there to start a bonfire! Take a look at the coffee shops in the morning, 6,7,8 units all having breakfast while us citizens wait for a response, unacceptable! Keep a big switch in the woodshed, use it on the malcontents that post here and use that extra money to give the good officers a raise.
Can the dead beats! Yeah right, he is hiring them all in an attempt to make his numbers by Dec 07.
The officers he is firing all those that were brought in during Chief Schultz's buddy, Ex-chief Galvin's administration. Galvin hired all those reject laterals from other agencys. Now, five years later, all their problems are surfacing and Scultz is having to deal with them.
Some of the other firings are those he, Chief Schultz has been hiring. All the officers with prior DWIs, DVs, and Agg batts and fraud charges that he has hired. He has really hurt this dept in an effort to get APD's numbers higher. He has no shame!
They are firing more right out of the academy than ever before, but some still get through.
However, officers keep leaving the minute they hit 19 years because of poor administration and pay.
Very few officers stay for a hard 20 years anymore. Most officers in my area command are counting down the years to both the new election and 19 years on the dept.
One of the supervisors here told us that there are already about 60 intent to retire letters in for this Dec. Many officers have already left. It seems like 1-2 officers leave every few weeks. They either retire or go to other depts.
APD officers have quite a nice benefits package, which is made up of far more than just salary. They also get clothing allowance (how many other folks get paid extra for work clothes?), generous overtime, and a take-home car (many of you get that??). Quite yer complain\'in!&*%$#%
Like I said before, you don't negotiate with this administration. They feel you should ask for nothing more and be happy with the crumbs they toss your way. Want to see a great benefit package, look at BCSO. That is where I am going to go when I retire.
"APD officers have quite a nice benefits package, which is made up of far more than just salary. They also get clothing allowance (how many other folks get paid extra for work clothes?), generous overtime, and a take-home car (many of you get that??). Quite yer complain\'in!&*%$#%"
How retarded are you??? It doesn't matter how good it is, the question is whether it's COMPETITIVE with competing agencies. All other comments about the chief aside, if the package is better in a different localized agency you're going to lose applicants and existing numbers. It's basic economics and I've even heard the chief express this in no uncertain terms.
If you want to live in a city where there's been negative growth of its main public safety element while everything else has expanded...best of luck. Add in the "sanctuary city" stigma (in a border state no less) and you've got a world class disaster FUBAR. When you start whining because you've been victimized nobody will be there to listen.
What is APD about 7th, 8th, or 9th, as far as pay packages go!
That will really attract new officers..
Are you nuts. This generation looks how much an hour they are making. They don't care about down the road hidden pay. If you are going to compete with other agencies, you better raise your hourly rate above theirs
If not, you will continue to get the left overs , and other depts rejects.
Dear John Q. Public. Please continue to read the professional comments being posted on this WEB page by many of the less than quality APD officers. Remember how they treat each other and the rest of the Albuquerque community in their comments and their actions. They want professional pay? They want to be treated as professionals?
They treat their fellow lateral officers with spite and disrespect. They mock their supervisors, police oversight, courts and city leaders. They fight among themselves???? God help Albuquerque.
APD officers who exercise their 1st amendment rights are considered less than quality officers? Move to Russia if you don't want to hear it, but in this country we are allowed to speak!
APD command staff just does not like to hear anything is wrong. They think it's there way or the highway. They are just poorly trained managers and do not want the public to know just how bad they really are.
They have established themselfs very well with all the spin they put on our departments issues, such as red light camera's, crime stats etc. It speaks for its self.
Need I say more about their credibility.
I sold and moved out of an over-priced downtown loft; headed for the north valley- ahhhh... open space, adobe and green chili roasting in the air . The downtown neighborhoods and downtown et al. revitalization is a myth. Crappy overpriced pseudo- lofts, crime and 1 restaurant. BFD. Downtown Abq is a joke; I'd wanted to watch homless sex and people crying on monday over their broken car windows I would have kept my place in the the east village.
Actually 95% of the APD is a great department. The 5% who speak here are just disgruntled because the rest of the department, administration, media and pubic know how worthless they are.
We seem to recall the chief and his 5th floor staff being called a bunch of lying weaseles. I think we know who is worthless on this dept. It's the administration that the media and public does not trust!!!!!
Listen to the radio and read the newspaper. They hammer the administration for lying all the time.
As always though, this dept's chiefs try to twist the truth.
All the officers see threw it!
We can't wait until they are all gone in a few years. The first group is gone, now this group is next.
Then newer, brighter and more educated and intelligent officers will take over.
"All the officers see threw it!" (sic)
That would be -- see through it. Must be an example of that newer, brighter, more educated thing you were writing about.
IT APPEARS THAT THE MAYOR NO LONGER HAS THE SUPPORT OF THE PEOPLE.
WELL, TWO MORE YEARS AND I GUESS WE WILL SEE AN END TO THIS 1980'S POLICING ADMINISTRATION. WE CAN THEN MOVE FORWARD....
THANK GOD!
CHIEF SCHULTZ,,,I just wanted to thank you and the mayor for selling us down the river........
YOU'RE WELCOME :)
Frankly, we will do what we want anytime we want. We could give a shit what the officers think or what rights we violate.
We will be gone in a few years and will never look back! So, file as many job actions as you want. It won't be our problem.
Everybody seems to forget that we are on the same side here. The administration views officers who voice concerns as the enemy. Other side of that is some officers who get in trouble view the administration as the enemy. I think both sides need to grow up and listen to what the other side is saying without tossing personal attacks.
So you don't like a policy the chief has done, well put it in writing, in an intelligent way and send it up your chain.
The chief/administration doesn't like something an officer has done, do your investigation and give your discipline fairly, but don't go out and slam the officer publicly. Keep personal issues private.
Both sides have a lot of fault here and someone needs to stand up and start behaving maturely.
Who will that be?
Remember the golden rule. Those with the gold, RULE!
Yeah, that is what king Louie and Marie Antoinette thought.
"Frankly, we will do what we want anytime we want. We could give a shit what the officers think or what rights we violate.
We will be gone in a few years and will never look back! So, file as many job actions as you want. It won't be our problem."
...like I said we won't forget. I see many friends, bars & above, who have "retired" only left standing there trying to figure out what to do now...
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