Albuquerque Police Chief Ray Schultz says all but one of the officers who showed up at the home of a fellow officer after his wife was shot to death in the couple's Valencia County home were there on their own time.Uh... Excuse us but aren't these trained and sworn officers? It really doesn't matter whether they were on duty, of duty, or on vacation for that matter. Anyone who's watched more than one episode of Law and Order knows that you don't go trampling around a room containing a dead body unless your intent is to contaminate the crime scene.
We don't have a problem with officers going down there on their own time - we have a problem with the stunning lack of professionalism shown by the nine APD officers who allegedly entered an active crime scene. At the very least these officers made the jobs of OMI and the Valencia County Sheriff's Department much more difficult. At worst, they could have made prosecuting a murderer next to impossible.
"At the start of this, we truly believed it was a suicide," said Aaron Jones, the lead investigator for Valencia County. "Once we started looking at some things we didn't have knowledge of until days later, we realized it might not be a suicide. By then, the damage had been done to the investigation. We have learned a lot from this investigation."We don't know what's more frightening, nine officers stupidly trashing a crime scene or the revelation that VCSO's lead detective learned that having nine people trampling a crime scene is a bad idea.
No one may ever truly know what happened to Tera Chavez, particularly since our Eyes tell us that the VCSO isn't exactly known for its investigative prowess. When you add nine APD officers who should have known better to the mix what you're left with is incompetence and a few lame excuses.
52 comments:
There needs to be a national media outlet willing to do their own investigation regarding this entire incident. Something here just stinks and Ray boy will NOT get to the bottom of it. This is going to take some good reporting, but I will bet at the end of the day the truth will come out.
The question becomes: How long is Marty going to put up with Ray Ray??
When he's had enough, he will do what any politician would do...dump him.
Scottsdale is looking pretty good again. Look for the "For Sale" sign in the yard. That's what Galvin did when he saw it coming.
Rest assured, I feel for Tera Chavez's family. But this lawsuit is a desperate attempt to bring some type of closure. What is alleged is ridiculous. It would be outrageous to think that 9 officers, among many others, could conspire in such a manner without word getting out of the alleged plan. It is without doubt that Levi Chavez did "service" other officers and he won't deny that. However, since when does a husband murder a wife over such a matter when the wife is herself, "servicing" others? Through personal knowledge, when I was with the NM State Police, I worked with the Valencia County SO lead detective Aaron Jones, in Cuba, NM when he was with the Cuba PD. Det. Jones had been recently fired by Lea County Sheriff's Department. He was later terminated from Cuba PD for drawing his weapon upon several high school kids at a basketball game. Det. Jones is 6'4" and 230lbs, there was no need to draw his weapon in a crowded area as a high school gym. I also have knowledge that Det. Jones once applied to APD and was told to never apply again. Upon being fired by Cuba PD, Det. Jones lands in Valencia County and of course is hired (at a place that seems to hire terminated officers from other departments, and most recently, an officer with 3 previous DWI arrests). I can say with certainty, that Det. Jones could not investigate himself out of a wet paper bag with steel-toed boots, and much could be said of the same for Valencia County SO. Det. Jones has a bone to pick with APD for refusing him for life and now he has found a way to even the score and try and make a name for himself. Lets not beat a dead horse, no pun intended and for a lack of a better verse.
Hey Chief Schultz, thanks for trying to throw us under the bus as usual! However, once again you have lied to the public, telling them we were not on duty. If the stupid reporter would do his home work and do some investigative research, he would find that you are once again lying to cover your a%@! What kind of reporter would just write a story without looking into the correct facts. Why does this reporter think the Chief would not lie to him. Once again, don't be a lazy reporter and look into the story before you write it. This Chief made you look like a fool once again, or you're in his pocket and just as dirty as the rest.
This will all come out in the lawsuit
FIRE SCHULTZ!
Being someone who is most of the time, an observer, I find this event sad, yet amusing ...
Question;
Could Ray Schultz been more honest than he is being, could he tell more of what he knows, without actually breaking the law,
on this or anyone of a number of other issues?
And if he could be more candid, forthright, and honest, with stakeholders, why are stakeholders not insisting on knowing the "whole" truth?
Why is "no comment" an acceptable answer to a legitimate question about the public interests?
Why won't you insist that public servants present themselves personally to listen to legitimate questions,
and then respond to them candidly, forthrightly and honestly?
All you have to do is to stand up to them, in numbers too great to ignore
and then demand that you be told the truth.
""if you drink much from a bottle marked "poison," it is almost certain to disagree with you, sooner or later"
That is from the children's book, "Alice in Wonderland."
Too many people here are drinking the poison, openly debating the most hideous allegations and libelous accusations about folks who can not defend themselves.
The good part about this site's open comments is that we get to see truth hidden among the dirt, however there is so much dirt now that the nuggets of truth are harder and harder to find.
No doubt someone will find a way to use this thread to besmirch the PIO or the Chief on a personal level. That would be wrong
This really is not about moral turpitude, or who looks good on camera, or who did or did not go to a scene to comfort a fellow officer [that they don't even like] it is about a crappy management style among some adminstrators throughout the city.
You guys are stealing something precious from us all when you tear down someone you work with or for in a venue like this. Citizens read this and they can choose to believe everything here, even the lies.
There is a strong undercurrent of "outing" some dirt and facts hidden in this blog.. lets stop screwing that up with personal grudges.
The Albuquerque news media are a bunch of kindergarden kids. Not a one of them asked Ray boy any tough questions about the incident. They just revomit what he tells them and they call it the truth. Hell I could teach a monkey to do what they are calling news. We need a guy like Horner to come back and not let the Chief sit and spin, but ask some hard questions and break some news stories.
Why does the local media just accept this spin regarding this death? Why are they not asking questions of figures like Schultz? Interviewing witnesses to get their views? Looking into the background of the people involved? Why haven't they interviewed the victims family to get their view of what has happened? Did he really change her life insurance policy? If so Why?
There is a real problem with 8 off duty APD officers showing up at a crime scene where there has been a suspicious death involving another APD officers wife. Where there is discovered drugs in the house that belongs to the APD officer. Where the gun used belonged to the APD officer. Where there is a allegation of infidilty involving the dead woman's APD officer with another APD officer. There is a total crime scene collasp that allowed officers that do not belong to enter the crime scene. A total disregard of the SOP which states if an APD officer might be involved in a shooting a team from surrounding agencies will investigate so that APD rises above all suspicion. What is this officers history with other departments since he is a laterial? Since he is on probation will the chief terminate him?
Come on Albuquerque media this is a huge story and someone who calls themselve an investigative reporter needs to step up and investigate!
it seems the city isn't taking the allegations seriously in the first place:
http://www.jeremyjojola.com/2008/08/apds-lawsuit-response.html
Now, were these officers being paid in some fashion that would make them on duty personnel. If so, Ray Schultz has lied once again to everyone to cover his actions. Can someone other than the APD look to see if these officers were infact compensated for their time out in Los Lunas. If this is true, it says alot about Ray Schultz' character! He's a hibitual liar!
Chief, you have said that we did nothing wrong in Los Lunas and nothing is going to happen to us, but then you make a statement to the Journal that we were their on our own time when you know that is not correct. Chief, are you still on our side???? If so, why did you distance yourself from us by making that statement? Why didn't you tell the Journal that we did nothing wrong?
There are no competent investigative journalists in Albuquerque. Our local media is a joke. Of course, it doesn't help that those tasked with "protecting" the mayor regularly threaten to withhold information from any reporter who even gets close to exposing the corruption that exists at city hall.
I have spent sometime in out of courtrooms and have seen all types of lawsuits. It appears the APD Chief may be washing his hands from his officers actions based on his statement in the ABQ Journal. If that were to materialize, the officers will be left standing alone and will more than likely be held personally liable for their own independent actions while at the scene in Los Lunas.
Basically, the officers will have to pay monetary out of their own pockets should the Chavez' prevail and punitive damage be awarded.
If I were one of these officers, I sure would seek legal counsel before I made any type of statement!
ive worked with arron jones and i can tell you first hand that he is not a uproght cop he is dirty. i dont know how he is still a cop after there being police reports of him beating his ex wife and holding her against her will at gun point. but vcso is not known for having the most top notched offisers.
"ive worked with arron jones and i can tell you first hand that he is not a uproght cop he is dirty. i dont know how he is still a cop after there being police reports of him beating his ex wife and holding her against her will at gun point. but vcso is not known for having the most top notched offisers."
Pleeeease! Either go back to school or invest in a good dictionary! Hope you don't think of yourself as top notched(sp).
You can bet that schultz has alrweady covered the timsheet issue, they are corrected by now
You are all a bunch of idiots. Those officers were collegues and supervisors of Chavez. There was no crime scene as Suicide is not against the law. If there was something suspicious then direct the comments toward VCSO. They made the initial declaration. I would just hope if something happened to my family that my other family would be there to support me...course idiots like you bagging on the "off duty officers" could very well jepordize such support in future incidents. If it happens that you cause another officer to lose out on support in tragic incidents because of your consipracy theory then thanks in advance and may the treatment be bestowed on you ten fold....civilian or officer.
umm--- kool aid drinkers ref Aaron Jones: that entire report of his dv with his ex is untrue. He actually taped the entire encounter and proved beyond a shadow that she was the agressor. Once the tape came out he was cleared. How badly do you all want to build a conspiracy of evil where none exists? Grow up and get to work for G_ds sake, and take some of these others with ya.
THE REAL PROBLEM LIES WITH THE FACT THE RAY SCHULTZ IS RECRUITING SUBSTANDARD OFFICERS TO GET TO THE MAYOR'S 1100 MARK! THE ISSUE WITH THAT IS THE INCREASED LAWSUITS FROM THESE OFFICERS THAT SHOULD HAVE NEVER BEEN COPS IN THE FIRST PLACE. CASE IN POINT, WAS YESTERDAYS PAPER(SUN). NOW, WHY ON EARTH WOULD YOU ARREST AN OLD MAN OVER A DOG VIOLATION. I THINK THIS IS THE 2ND TIME THE APD HAS DONE THIS WITH THE ELDERLY. THIS IS JUST ONE MORE CLASSIC EXAMPLE FOLLOWING THE VERY LONG LIST LEAD BY OFFICER LEVY CHAVEZ.
THIS CHIEF AND MAYOR NEED TO BE REPLACED AS THEY ARE PUTTING THIS CITY IN DANGER FROM THE LOWERING OF THE APD STANDARDS JUST TO GET THEIR NUMBERS!
ANYONE RUNNING IN THE NEXT MAYOR'S ELECTION CAN POINT THIS OUT AS WELL AS ALL THE PROBLEMS BEING EXPERIENCED BY THE APD! THIS WILL VERY HARD FOR THE MAYOR TO EXPLAIN, ESPECIALLY, IF THESE PEOPLE GET INFORMATION AND EXAMPLES FROM NEWLY RETIRED SUPERVISORS/ BRASS THAT KNOW ALL THE PROBLEMS RAY SCHULTZ HAS CAUSED!
It sounds like it was the brilliant defectives from Los Lunas who decided that this was not a crime scene until days after the fact.
I may not know much, but if the defectives from Los Lunas had a scene that they wanted to preserve...shouldn't they have preserved it?
If the APD officers were allowed in the house...it was at the permission of the Los Lunas Defectives...
I think the lawsuit is obviously pointed at the big money pot....that is why the Lost Looney's Police aren't targeted.
Maybe the competence of the Lost Looney's Police Defectives should be questions and investigated. It is pretty common knowledge that they have screwed up many an investigation in the past.
If you know the APD folks named in the suit....you'll see people who know what is right/wrong and what should/not be done.
The family is grasping for straws. Chavez should be investigated and sued solely. I agree with the previous poster who suggested that you can't get 2 officers to decided on where to eat lunch let alone 7-10 officers from different places to conspire to do anything but argue with each other.
This is an apparent attempt to sensationalize this event...garner the media attention...and hope that enough pressure can be brought to settle out of court. I don't think that the family really wants to go to court and throw more dirt on their daughter/sister/friend's name.
who tapes a dv incident they are involved in? thats cool. im gonna rig my home with continuously recording tapes in case a dv ever breaks out in my home. at least i can pull the tape later. aaron jones your brilliant.
The APD Officers didn't conspire, they were just stupid for going into the crime scene! Come on! you don't go into to a scene, especially when you know the Det's may not be the brightest. Seems the APD Officers out there all paid on comp or OT were not the brightest. We do know they all received some type of compensation for being there, no matter how much the chief lied and said they were there on their own! IT'S JUST PAR FOR THE COURSE FOR THIS LYING CHIEF!
That was just plain dumb to go into that scene and those cops need to be retrained, as they gave the civil lawsuit strength.
No conspiracy, just plain stupidity!!!!!!! As well as a chief that is attempting to hang his officers out to dry! What a coward he is. He says one thing and does another!
""who tapes a dv incident they are involved in? thats cool."" Actually I did a few years ago, anyone who is a 34 and dealing with an ex who has ever threatened to do your career harm really ought to take note
he tape recorder will always tell the truth!!
So they were stupid for entering the not "crime scene". Who is supposed to clean it up. Should we just tell a friend that has had this happen...clean it yourself...I wouldnt want any of the upstandstanding citizens on this blog having a bad opinion of me just in case this high speed department investigating this incident didnt do its job or fell to pressure to change its initial determination. Wake up and see who is really stupid here.
ULTIMATELY THIS FALLS SQUARLY ON THE SHOULDERS OF MAYOR CHAVEZ. HE NEEDS TO TAKE ACTION.BLOW TORCH THE FIFTH FLOOR OR IT WILL EVENTUALLY END HIS POLITICAL CAREER.
This chief hates women so much he drove out the last two high ranking female commanders he had. Either or should have been promoted to deputy chief, as they were more than qualified for the position. However, Ray Schultz favors his male dominated dept!
I think Mayor Chavez should really consider replacing Ray Schultz and placing Debbie Kudis as APD's Chief. Hasn't Ray done enough damage to APD already. Major lawsuits every week, poor recruiting of people who should never be cops, worst morale in APD history! The list can go on and on.
It's time for a change in APD! I know 95% of the officers would strongly agree especially, all the women! Replace Ray Schultz Mayor or he will bring you down and end your political career! It sure would increase your popularity....
Have your people do a secret poll, you will see. It must be secret to avoid retaliation from the 5th floor.
If you believe Sisi was qualified to be a DCOP, you my friend are smoking crack!
CameronF said...
ive worked with arron jones and i can tell you first hand that he is not a uproght cop he is dirty. i dont know how he is still a cop after there being police reports of him beating his ex wife and holding her against her will at gun point. but vcso is not known for having the most top notched offisers.
August 31, 2008 12:55:00 PM MDT
CAMRON FISHER NMSP CID (Alcohol Division)Fired from VCSO and his daddy got him a job at CID
Quit drinking and Blogging!
"......placing Debbie Kudis as APD's Chief".
September 3, 2008 6:33:00 AM MDT
Ya know, that is not a bad idea. Deb was smart, she actually cared, and outside of a few attempts to hel out her friends she seemed pretty darn fair.
Kudis as chief-- OMG that is hiularious! how about sonny leeper?
Whatever anyone thinks of this case it needs to be solved! 8 "Off Duty" cops go to a mans home right after his wife "commits suicide"? FISHY!!!! An accused cop on PAID LEAVE for 11 months???? Yeah thats punishment!! Not!! This needs to all be taken care of so Tera's memory can rest!!! On a personal note I hope Levi Chavez burns in hell. She told alot of people about him before she died and I know in my heart he killed her. I know that because I am one of the people she talked to.
"CAMRON FISHER NMSP CID " , point of contention, they are CID -- they are NOT NMSP, the black and grey dont claim those guys
Maybe nothing has happened yet because theres no EVIDENCE that Levi did anything wrong. I know for a fact that these VCSO detectives are jealous of Levi and his life, and have become obsessed with him. Let me ask you this...If these APD officers went to his house and messed up the crime scene, why didnt VCSO complain about it 11 months ago when it happened??? Why wait until a year later to complain? This is just a BS excuse to justify the past 11 months. They have played so many games with Tera's family, just to justify keeping the investigation going. I feel sorry for them.
Our local "investigative" reporters are a joke. A few months ago they ran a story for almost two weeks about a dog being given to the someone other than the real owner due to a micro chip mix up. Is that the best they can do... a story on a dog. I love dogs, but I know there are a lot bigger stories out there... what a joke.
Nicole Simpson's family didn't get the justice they deserved from the courts... so they sought justice in other ways. I agree that there was no conspiracy... just stupidity. We APD officers would never in a million years allow officers from another department into one of our scenes, they should have known better. Levi should have been fired while he was still a probationary officer. If he is not convicted of this crime Ray will keep him because firing him is admitting that APD screwed up. Ray keeps guys like this and lets great officers leave because of his BS.
Debbie was not just in it for herself like this present administration. She really cared about the troops, not just how much money she was making! She wanted APD personnel to be happy and not be taken advantage of, just because certain people have power they abuse!
Well, it won't be long now guys, start packing your bags, new Mayor, new Chief!
Oh, and Sonny Leeper, well he would be better than what we have up there now, as he was not in it for the money. He might have had self interest, but he is not vindictive and arrogant like Ray Schultz.
Ray has always hated intelligent women and is extremely intimidated by us! He will do everything in his power to keep them down. He has been like this since the start of his career.
I would definately tell him to his face. I am just waiting for the opportunity to see him in person!!
i hope his new wife doesn't already have a life insurance policy. he'll be more careful the second time around. and i'm sure she's the one that posted at 8:04 am sept. 4 defending him.
Kudis for chief??? shes the original member of the rubber gun squad!
In terms of Levi being on a paid leave, another officer's wife REALLY did commit suicide last year, hes back to work and not on leave..
Levi is a waste of space, and they are probably counting him towards the 1100. Whatever happened to the accountability that was voted at an APOA meeting by a sgt? she demanded (it was voted and passed), for a complete list of accountability for every officer.
For the above comment-you are right on target!!
Paul Chavez, quit posting! Go find a chick to abuse better!! NO ONE IS INTERESTED IN ANYTHING YOU HAVE TO SAY.
We will have a woman chief sometimes, we got woman on mccain ticket and obama yelling and demanding equality 4 all, do you think lil mayor and rae rae wull gasp that.
For the idiot above what difference is it if the officers are paid to be there or not? There was no conspiracy here or crime scene tampering. All mistakes made by the investigating agency not the cops who cleaned it up. And yes youre still the IDIOT for drumming up this lame conspiracy theory. Check yourself in they have meds that will help you.
Mayor was no where around yesterday when M. Obama was here. I guess probably because of his and his administration treatment of women. Schultz only promotes his buddies who in turn promote their buddies. Case in point, mccabe and hudson for starters.
henz barazza, & sauer? thats it? haha surely u jest
The key is smart women. Ray does not mind the stupid ones, but is very intimidated by women with brains who can think for themselves!
Years ago, Ray back stabbed a Capt he was working for so he could move into the position!
The guy is ruthless and will step on anybody to get ahead.
If you want a competent female leader, promote Beth Paiz. She would make a great chief.
What about a woman for Mayor? Not from the city counsel, but from the ranks of APD. If she can't move up from within because of the good ol'boy ceiling then run against "shorty", he's done for sure. Ask yourself: What Would Sarah Do?"
They will never appoint Sonny Leeper. He's too honest and so is Beth. They don't WANT people like that on the 5th floor are you kidding me????
Why is Schutz still chief, this Mayor is facing political suicide.... However, that's a good thing.
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