It's a fact that Albuquerque has a crime problem. We're not talking about dastardly Dodges running read lights, or cell phone addicts. We're talking about violent crime.
Just last year an analysis by the Albuquerque Journal revealed that Albuquerque ranked in the top 13% for property crime (ABQ Journal - Subscription). When asked about the Journal's findings Chief Schultz replied "I feel safe" and went on to blame all of us for reporting crime too often (read our take here).
Our Eyes behind the badge told us last year that the real problem with high property crime rates is that they're a leading indicator of violent crime. Sure enough, just one year later according to the FBI's Preliminary Uniform Crime Report, Albuquerque has seen an across the board increase in violent crime over last year. Murder alone is up a whopping 38%.
It's easy to target Chief Schultz when he's busy making idiotic statements and make no mistake the Chief and his boss The Almighty Alcalde bear quite a bit of the responsibility. But there is another elected official that should also shoulder their portion of the blame - 2nd Judicial District Attorney Kari Brandenburg.
We told you about Ms. Torraco's entry into the race back in February (read it here), but we really hadn't heard much about the race until our Eyes told us about an unscientific poll being run over at the Albuquerque Police Officers Association website. The poll simply asks, "[w]ho would you support for the District Attorney in the upcoming election?" To our surprise, Ms. Torraco beat out the incumbent by a margin of almost 3 to 1 (Brandenburg 25.89%, Torracco 70.54%, Other 3.57%).
Granted, this is an unscientific poll but you've got to take into account who visits this website on a regular basis. It seems that the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department - the rank and file - are sending a loud and clear message that it's time we did something about crime in this city. After all these are the people that deal with the DA's office on a regular basis. These are the officers who see their cases plead down or dropped. These are the officers who've become frustrated that no matter how hard they work, criminals are sent back into the community where they continue to endanger the people that the officers are sworn to protect. For that reason and that reason alone, this poll means something.
As frustrated as we are with the 5th Floor and The Almighty Alcalde, they are just part of this problem - a part that we as voters cannot do anything about until next year. However, there is a DA's race this year and it's a race against crime.
26 comments:
Brandenburg has not prosecuted a single case of public corruption in her entire tenure.
Either there was no public corruption during that time (hahahahahahaha)
or there has been no one to prosecute public corruption.
good riddance
While we're on the subject, why don't we talk about the lazy officers who think their job is done once they arrest an individual. Or how about how a good portion of police officers, and I'm not just referring to APD, of course, don't think that showing up to court is part of their job and in turn the DA's Office is forced to dismiss cases because they don't have cooperation from the cops that arrested these people. I would say a good portion of the time that the outcome of a case is only as good as the report and investigation of the officer who did it. Everyone is so quick to point the finger at someone, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
im a 34. i spend 20+ hrs a week in metro. some of us show up. help to prosecute drunks.
Perhaps it is time for the DA to start enforcing this NM statute:
29-1-1.
It is hereby declared to be the duty of every sheriff, deputy sheriff, constable and every other peace officer to investigate all violations of the criminal laws of the state which are called to the attention of any such officer or of which he is aware, and it is also declared the duty of every such officer to diligently file a complaint or information, if the circumstances are such as to indicate to a reasonably prudent person that such action should be taken, and it is also declared his duty to cooperate with and assist the attorney general, district attorney or other prosecutor, if any, in all reasonable ways. Such cooperation shall include the prompt reporting of all arrests for liquor law violations at licensed liquor establishments to the department of alcoholic beverage control. Failure to perform his duty in any material way shall subject such officer to removal from office and payment of all costs of prosecution.
come on, we all know that Brandenburg stood next to Marty when he announced he was running for senate. Brandenburg is Marty's "cop" prosecuter. Corrupt DA
re;
Everyone is so quick to point the finger at someone, but people in glass houses shouldn't throw stones.
I have never been much impressed with the "but everyone else is doing it" defense.
I think it actually is not much accepted beyond about the fifth grade.
VOTE TORRACO FOR DISTRICT ATTORNEY
First of all-cops DO show up for court, you idiot! Some cops may have court appearances scheduled at the same time! I've seen it! One cop may have to be in five different court rooms all at the same time! It's the judges who will dismiss a case if the officer is held up with another judge. You have no idea what you're talking about.
Vote Kari out!!!!!!!!!!!
Don't forget the Judges folks. They also have a role to play, or fail to play in this game.
Rude cops!!! Earlier this week I was walking north on 4th between Roma and Lomas behind a cop who came across a young hispanic couple who were talking to each other. They were stopped on the sidewalk and quietly taking. She had tears in her eyes and I suspect they may have just come from the courthouse. The cop rudely asked if there was problem and the man stated they were just talking. The cop said something I couldn't hear and the man replied, "Because I love her." The cop then said, "Be careful what you love, it can get you in trouble." He then told them in no uncertain terms to "move on" and get out of the way on the sidewalk. They moved on. How rude and unnecessary for this cop to inject himself in this situation. This is what citizens hate!
RE: Rude Cops
Maybe that's just a reflection of the hiring trend. Get used to it, they're gonna be around for a while.
I agree Torraco for DA. Kari has failed. Time for Brnadenberg to move on.
Brandenburg uses her own powers for her own good. When ex-apd officer ben kirby decided to file a law suit in district court she decided to finally send his case to the grand jury and if you know grand jury if they want you to get a true bill they will. Look at ex-apd officer orlando camacho, they didn't send his case to the grand jury until 14 months after his incident happen and that is because of the media coming down on brandenburg regarding the officer that ran over the elderly lady in her back yard and nothing happen to him. So now she has to make sure she makes an example out of everyone. Brandenbury, Shultz and Marty are all on the same boat,,,,,,,,,,,dirty. Time for a change, hopefully it will start with Torraco.
Another 34 for Lisa
The officer was running code to a DV!!!! God bless that grandmother and her family, but come on you can't put him in the same category as Kirby or Camacho! This poor guy was trying to get to this DV call so that it wouldn't become a major crime scene! Leave him alone!! Thing like this happen to police officers, and it is so unfortunate for that victim but I'm sure her family would have wanted him to respond in the same way if he was running to their home to help them out! And so would YOU!!
Dont forget Lisa is the one trying to throw cops under the bus, and she works with Mescall. What a team!
For the love of g-d is there not a Republican who never worked in the Defense bar who would like to be DA?? Please??? Come forward and we'd vote for you!!!!!!!
Republicans don't go into criminal law after law school, they go and litigate on behalf of sleazy corporations.
I could have gone to law school at UNM, but I was allergic to Cocaine
sleazy corporations is where the moneys at,,,
i couldve worked with lisa, but i have this disease she said was contagious and she couldnt get exposed to it... ETHICS
I like Lisa but I don't think right now she is DA material. I've been a cop for a long time and know that my case is only as good as I make it. I don't expect miracles from a case that is only two paragraphs long or if I mess up a search. We have to follow proecedures and we all know that most cops aren't even aware of what's right and wrong. It goes along with the new breed of cops we have comming up. I read a report that had 4 words spelled wrong. I didn't know if they were typos or the person didn't know how to spell.
Well thank you above poster for throwing your brothers under the bus. You must be trying for a Chief's position. YES we must do good cases and the majority of officers do. CHECK your own spelling by the way Mr/Mrs English teacher.
"I like Lisa but I don't think right now she is DA material."
Procedure-A particular way of doing things. (I like to help)
Does Bernalillo County have a prosecuter? I thought everyone just fell through the cracks.
Post a Comment