White Leaves Biggest Stain on APD

Public Safety Director, Darren White and Chief Ray Schultz called a meeting of APD’s management staff of rank of sergeant and above. According to the Journal (Read it here) the purpose of the meeting was to advise supervisory staff about the concerns of top management. Chief Schultz told his “supervisors to warn officers that misconduct won’t be tolerated.” Public Safety Director, Darren White stated, “We are confronted with misconduct and allegations of misconduct that has led to a perception among many in the public that we have forgotten who we work for.” White continued and stated that some officers have “stained” APD. The question becomes; is this pot calling the kettle black?

The answer to the question is, yes, Darren White has stained and continues to stain the City of Albuquerque and the Albuquerque Police Department. It is odd that White would have the audacity to even speak. White told the audience, “We’re not talking just about comments posted on the Internet. If you engage in any behavior that brings discredit to this department, you should expect to be terminated.” If this is true, where is White’s termination? Ask the City Council, about White lying to them. He has lied over and over again and without consequences.

White also stated, “I don’t think I’d say there’s a cultural problem at APD, but there are a number of folks — and it’s more than just a few — who don’t live up to the values and ideals of the majority of the hard-working men and women on this department. They are putting a stain on the department that, left unchecked, could create longlasting problems.” The Eye disagrees with White and has stated this before, APD is suffering from a “culture of corruption” which gained all its’ momentum when White became public safety director. The guilty ones never call it like it is. White enjoys the masquerade of a smoke screen and putting “lipstick on a pig.” The problem is when it is all said and done; all you have is a pig wearing lipstick!

The “stain” that White refers to is his own. The rank and file witnesses the top leader (White) of the Department lying and running amuck. It only makes “sense” to them that this is an acceptable practice and they see no issue if they do the same. This is how the “culture of corruption” gets started, fostered and is promulgated by the top. The days of, “do what I say and not as I do” is no longer acceptable to anyone. Do the math, when did White become public safety director and when did all the hard problems and issues start with APD. The facts speak for themselves.

Schultz is battling many fronts. He is trying to save his department and trying to deal with a monkey (White) on his back. Terminate the public safety director’s position, this will allow Schultz to be chief and allow positive change. Schultz has looked like a smut because of the fronts he is battling. This will not change till the rank and file see that there is consequences for all, including White. If Schultz doesn’t do the job he was hired to do, get rid of him and find someone who can.

Both White and Schultz need to clean out their own closets before they look into some else’s. This “holier-than-thou” routine only makes it obvious what they are doing and make the public want to heave.

Accountability, responsibility and authority starts at the top.