We've seen it before - The 5th Floor seeking retribution when an officer acting as a private citizen voices painful opinions. Last year, Sergeant Paul Heh stood before the City Council and voiced his opposition to the latest APD contract (read it here). Agree with the outspoken sergeant or not, he has the guaranteed Constitutional right to voice his opinion.
Our Eyes tell us that today the 5th Floor sent out a memo instructing all officers to obtain permission before speaking before any group. Obviously, APD has something to say about what an officer says and to whom when in uniform or representing the department. However, as long as an officer is not in uniform and is not representing the department, the 5th Floor cannot prohibit or attempt to prohibit an officer from speaking their mind in public. Regardless of how embarrassing that officer's opinion is to the department.
Liberty requires freedom of expression. We cannot be truly free without the freedom to express our ideas and opinions. The 5th Floor ought to be very careful when writing memos. If their intent is to underscore existing SOP - that's one thing. If on the other hand, they are attempting to discourage officers from publically speaking their minds - that's quite another. The former is understandable. The latter is an attempt to stifle speech and is contemptible.
16 comments:
Paul should run for mayor, I'd vote.
It doesn't matter what or when any officer says anything, the SOP says conduct on or off duty, and if the department is "embarrassed" then it doesn't matter when you say it, what matters is whether or not you get vaseline first, and who has your back, the mayor and chief, or the other officers.
The SOP is written to be interpreted the way they want to, one day it's this, the next day it's that, depending on which way the chief('s) (wind) is getting blown.
The 11th floor has already lost 1st amendment lawsuits about controlling what city employees can speak out about on their days off, their private lives! For some reason Marty thinks he owns all city workers 24/7. He call’s them his employees!
As long as a city employee isn’t wearing clothing that would associate them with the city or department they represent, while on the job, then they can speak out about the truth and corruption that exists on their own time of course wearing civilian clothing. Many are afraid too because of retaliation, but more than one or two people have to step up to the plate or it’s futile.
Too bad our politicians didn’t take law classes regarding Constitutional law. It doesn’t seem to apply to them. Next thing we know our phones will be illegally bugged, security camera’s at our homes… 1984 is coming true just a little later than George Orwell predicted.
This is not surprising. The U.S constitution is not something our leaders want us to have knowledge of. That would mean law officials would have to do things differently and according to the standard written years ago. The tools for law enforcement would be compromised if someone were able to speak freely. Also, my problem is that there are more amendments than the first in the Bill of Rights. The first amendment guarantees the freedom of speech, and law officials choose not to obey it when they insist that someone keep their mouth shut. The pattern is to disobey the rest of the amendments as well (after all, it deals with the rights of Americans and our freedom). We live in a land that law has become a matter of convenience to those who wear a badge. To make up what you believe has become the standard rather than following the letter, and intent of the law. I think we need to restore the constitution to its original form and make APD obey it also!
Crazy idea, but what if APD stopped focusing so much on playing politics and put some of that time and energy into a little more crime fighting?
Why not focus on gay liberation in the police ranks?
We would all like to know what someone's sexual orientation is (as if it isn't obvious already).
"Crazy idea, but what if APD stopped focusing so much on playing politics and put some of that time and energy into a little more crime fighting?
Seriously...do you think that the people who are playing politics are the ones who actually do police work??? Wow...We have 5th floor politicians...and the cops in the field, detectives, etc....two distinct groups. Please stop getting them confused.
Chavez does own the City, wait till he seeks the endorsement from the Police Union and we give it to him like we do every election. We just empower him, so why shouldn't he act like a little you know what. Even when the memberhship speaks up and opposes his endorsement, it always seems he gets it. Everyone complaints that there is no attendance at the meetings, does it really matter, everyone is looking out for their own. I want everyone in the community to know how bad the mayor is and the majority of APD does not respect him or the chief, not even the position. They don't like Hey because he says what he wants and they don't like it. Election comming up and everyone always remembers the bad things Chavez does but he always gets the APOA endorsement because the Union doesn't realize when they are being manipulated. Just like when they were on the same floor as the Chief, they didn't know the Chief was playing them.
The 5th floor is all about do as I say, not as I do. The chief's do plenty from cheating on their wives to allowing crimes to be committed by their friends.
The two deputy chief's had long standing relationships with others and they still have their jobs??????? We all know who they are, as well as who the relationship was with!!!!!!!
castro broke up with his gf didnt he? shes an officer too...
The AFD union does the same thing. Endorse Marty no matter what the body says and then they say "well you need to come to the meetings".
Well, I have for years, but it doesn't matter. They always use there executive right to over rule what the body wants anyway. Although I must say the new union Pres has worked Marty and gotten us a good contract. Hodgie, now the County Fire Chief, sold the body out every day at Starbucks with Ortega and the little one. And Hodgie always thought he was the BMOC. He's a nothing, scum bag like the the city politicians. Word has it he's selling his firefighters down the river also. It's all about him. Talk about a Napoleon complex!
That's why the AFD union has about 10 people, if that, show up for meetings. Why bother our voice means nothing, just out dues.
You'll get over it....
Yea, we'll all get over it when we retire and can speak out without covert retalitaion.
"You'll get over it" we already did but don't think we'll forget.
What happened to the APOA website?
www.abqpoa.org
Another way to silence the cops?
As for the ?????? on the APOA website. It was moved for two reasons, major reason is that they need more security from the 11th floor and Lawrence...so they have moved to a more secured site and anyone wanting access will be background and verified.
Or Olivas wants more control, I guess they think we are fools!
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