After numerous phone calls and emails to city officials, Albuquerque Police spokesperson John Walsh finally told me today (Monday) that Officers Ron Olivas and Brad Ahrensfield are on "paid administrative leave pending an internal affairs investigation."According to our Eyes, the two APD officers were placed on administrative leave for allegedly burning a federal investigation into a Valley used car dealer that was dealing in more than used cars. Apparently, Ahrensfield knew the dealer in question and received information from Olivas that the FBI was about ready to make arrests in the case. Allegedly, Ahrensfield tipped off his dealer buddy who promptly changed the emphasis of his dealing activities back to automobiles.
Walsh told me the two officers were placed on leave sometime last week.
The 5th Floor has gone into what can only be called an apoplectic fit over the possibility that the allegations against the two officers might find their way to the public or into the media. (Oops!)
In case you haven't noticed... there's an election going on and the boss ain't fairing so well. Stories on yet another APD scandal won't help The Almighty Alcalde in his bid to keep his seat on the 11th Floor – particularly since the leak came from the Special Investigations Division (SID).
SID was the source of the Reserve-gate scandal where APD officers were falsifying civilian time sheets and sending Reserve Officer David Young out undercover illegally. Ron Olivas – the immediate Past President of the APOA – received his assignment to the unit only recently and rumor has it that Olivas got the assignment as a reward from The Almighty Alcalde for his “help” with the union.
Remember, Chief Schultz threw the entire reserve program under the bus rather than admit that a couple of his favored senior officers falsified time sheets and illegally paid a reserve officer for police work.
The 5th Floor doesn't want news of yet another investigation out before the election. And don't look for the FBI to do anything that might influence the election.
Since the whole Senator Ted Stevens debacle where the Justice Department was very publicly chastised for prosecutorial misconduct, the DOJ and FBI are extremely reluctant to file charges right before an election. The DOJ eventually dropped the indictments and Stevens' conviction was overturned. But the damage to Senator Stevens' political career was done and he lost his seat in the U.S. Senate.
Burning an FBI investigation is never a good idea – and understandably the Feds are none too happy. It's a particularly bad idea when the match is struck by a couple of law enforcement officials who not only should know better, but should probably do everything in their power to stay away from "friends" who are the target of an FBI investigation. If the allegations against the two are true, Olivas and Ahrensfield could even be charged criminally.
In addition to burning and FBI investigation, the two officers may have burned Marty's chances of closing the gap with mayoral challenger R.J. Berry. For years now APD has made a habit of sweeping it's dirty laundry under the rug. Now theirs more dirt than rug and the public is beginning to get the idea that it's time for a good cleaning - starting with The 11th Floor.
23 comments:
Really! Wow! I got the feeling on September 28th, that something might be cooking and that Ron Olivas, a former President of APOA is under investigation for tampering with an FBI investigation regarding a car dealership probably is what APD Officers discontent with what is happening wanted to leak and get out right before the election! If the leak came from the SID Unit, then there are several APD Officers that probably know that APOA is backing the wrong candidate! The Sanctuary City rules need to be amended to give APD Officers back their discretion.
Since, that rule there have been several APD Officers with low morale.... low morale is bad for APD because APD Officers won't care as much about what happens to people. I think society needs to trust their, "PAL," and give APD back their discretion to ask a person's nationality if necessary to carry out their investigation.
This is what happens when you have APD Officers who dislike who APOA has chosen to be there candidate!
Lot's of bad judgements going around APD right now. Tough climate to work in right now just before the election.
Interesting that the leak from APD to the media and public came just before an election!
APD needs to get their morale back which means APOA realizing the importance of choosing a candidate that gives APD Officer's their discretion back, so ending that horrible rule of the "Sanctuary rule/law."
The news hounds love covering how leaks got out! The main story here is that the upcoming election triggered APD Officers to leak out infomation. To get a split with Joey Sigala, the APD would need to leak out information, so that is what to make of this!
If there are 1000 APD Officers, then 1/3 of those Officers would be needed to make a split with APOA's endorsement of Marty Farty.
Such a split would provide the APD Officers with a back up plan. In certain times, such as the City Union workers, a split from their Union representative occurs when there is a strong belief among workers that there is too much corruption. A split can occur, when there is strong belief to make a change (The Sanctuary Law/rule).
What APD Officers reading this blog need to ask is the following:'
Was Joey Sigala's selected candidate based on actual benefit to the individual APD Officer or himself, Joey Sigala?
Was the working relationship/bond between Marty Farty and Joey Sigala the real reason Joey Sigala selected Marty Farty? Would a neutral, impartial decision would have led to a better selection, quality of candidate of either Romero or Berry? Yes.
Everyone is scrambling right now, including The Sheriff who all of a sudden has chosen to endorse a candidate. What's the motivation?
Is he trying to get in front of a shit storm for long time friend Ray?
He sees the winds of change coming and now is abandoning Marty for greener pastures. He's termed out, and must land a job. Does no one see through this charade?
It should be self evident that the actions of Ron Olivas and the other APD Officer involved in the Interal Affairs matter filed by the FBI is abhorrent and deplorable.
The leak to the media of this deplorable action by two APD Officers, one being the former APOA President who was backed by Marty Farty... just before the election is a strong indication of
APD Officers realizing that their current leadership of Marty Farty needs to be voted out of Office to allow APD morale to increase!
The FBI should take a close look at the APOA. For years they have screwed with the finances. This is the tip of the ice burg. Remember when Sgt Cordova said that Olivas and SID had integrity? What a joke!!!!!
It sounds as though what occurred would be like Daskalos, the wealthy developer, being taken out of the BAT mobile even though legally intoxicated! Sounds like the FBI busted an APD Officer for corruption. Sounds like the matter in Internal Affairs is going light on the APD Officer! Sounds like the FBI would like to believe that there was a misunderstanding of some kind and that only an infraction or out right termination is called for instead of a criminal prosecution.
What is causing this corruption is
poor leadership ability. A great leader inspires morale and boosts morale! An APD Officer with a high morale is an APD Officer that will care about people, crime, doing what is right!
investigate barboa
The feds don't want to open up a can of worms with indictments before the election, so as not to sway it one way or the other. WHY NOT?? Isn't this what the people need to know about a corrupt administration BEFORE they vote?
Come on already !!!!!!!!!
If Marty should get elected and this could have exposed scoundrels and prevented it, that would be a crime in itself
Here SID is at it again. Is Chief Schultz ever going to clean up those corrupt cops out there, his friends!!!!!!!
Schultz just keeps hiding all their corrupt activity. Well, I think it's going to bite the mayor this time.
Why has the Mayor not taken any action against the SID officers. He knows exactly what's been going on and has also turned a blind eye on SID's crimes
Well, it looks like Albuquerque needs a new government free from corruption!!!!!
Go out and vote for a change!!!!!!
"The FBI should take a close look at the APOA. For years they have screwed with the finances. This is the tip of the ice burg."
Did your mother have any kids that lived? You're an idiot. I'm sure you have been bitching about the APOA for years but have done nothing to prove your claims or help the organization.
If you don't the organization don't pay full dues. If you don't like APD go elsewhere.
The majority of the members of the APOA are happy with what it has been doing. The few whiners on this site need to put the pacifier back in their mouths and have their mommy change their diaper!!
If Chief Schultz has addressed the SID issue with the last scandal, none of this would be happening. You should have transferred Commander Hudson Chief and cleaned house like everyone told you. Now look what has happened. We know Comdr Hudson is your friend, but the guy is an idiot, he can't run and control anything. In fact, you should have put him on leave for the last incident.
Failure to act on your part Chief has cause yet another scandal in SID, what's next? When are you going to learn. Get off you behind and do something!
Who leaked the information?
Who haved the most to gain from that leak? Certainly, Ron Olivas and the the APD Officer who have a complaint filed against them by the FBI would not make that leak, but would hope for a quite internal affairs investigation. Plus, Ron Olivas wouldn't want that info out about the car dealership that he protected either because that would damage their image in public, too!
So, most likely that the person who had the most too gain from this leak is an APD Officer that knows Marty Farty needs to be voted out of Office!
There is another APD Officer.... who is concerned about the welfare of the APD future.... he might be able to help rally APD Officer's and split from APOA. Let's see what happens! If he breaks his silence, makes those phone calls and gets support from other APD Officers!
Another APD Officer hoping to become President of APOA now is the opportunity to make that split happen with the APOA union! This could be the perfect opportunity for an APD Officer to make a split and later be voted to become APOA President!
Let the cards fall where they may. When Marty wins again, he would be foolish not to replace Ray Ray. I do predict a Marty win in the run offs. A new Chief in January under the Chavez administration.
Did you know that by voting for Berry or Romero that you will increase your chances of living longer? Yeah... especially if your an APD Officer...., then a new direction one where the APD Officer's welfare is considered instead of just greedy Marty Farty!
If R told A, then A went to point of where relative worked to stop arrest, then clearly illegal. Why was R being held accountable, too? Was it against policy and the law for R to tell A? Probably because R probably knew A had a relative that worked there. How did the FBI find out? Did A go directly to a location that he would have had reason to believe was being wiretapped and under surveillance? So, is there an internal affairs investigation?
When is the Chief going to transfer those rotten eggs out of SID? There are loads of good cops that want the SID jobs. Clean them out chief.
Now that you mention "A" had a relative working at the dealership I am going to make some assumptions here. I could be wrong. I assume the owner of that dealership eats lunch with Sheriff White and T.J. Whilhelm on a regular basis. This explains Sheriff White's sudden endorsement of Berry and why T.J. Whilhelm is bashing APD. White wants separation from that dealership and T.J. wants to distort info away from White. Sounds like someone is looking for a job. Anyine agree with my assumtions?
I agree you caint spell down there in Aintry!
this is sparta !!!!!!!!!
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