A quote from the film “A Few Good Men” emblazons the back of APOA t-shirts. It includes notions of honor, code, and loyalty. Honor, code, and loyalty are powerful words for if a person is to be faithful to such notions they will do what’s right, for the right reasons, regardless of who it’s for and what challenges face them.
For several years now, concerns about how the APOA leadership spends membership dues funds has always lurked in the background. In fact the Eye broke a story about how then APOA President Ron Olivas seemed to use the APOA credit card for personal expenses (yes, this is the same Ron Olivas who is now a paid employee for the APOA with duties we and APOA members are unclear about.) (Link for 04/04/08 story). We then followed up the story a year later with (link 05/25/09) where it seems little had been addressed despite there being outrage by the membership in general and by Sgt. Paul Heh in particular (link 05/30/09). Despite all of this attention our Eyes tell us little change occurred and now a crisis of confidence challenges APOA President Joey Sigala and Vice-President Felipe Garcia.
A couple of weeks ago the Albuquerque Journal ran a story regarding a leaked email from APOA lawyer Fred Mower. Mr. Mower expressed concern to Sigala and the Executive Board that the APOA’s fiscal house was in need of attention. Namely it seemed “self-paid” activities were consuming significant amounts of APOA funds and Mower raised questions about the APOA covering the cost impending costs associated with the wages lawsuit against the city and Mayor Berry. Now the story has evolved into something that has been a long standing practice between the APOA and officer involved in shootings. Because Sigala and Garcia have been inept in their handling of the issue, the mayor has entered the fray ordering the Chief to compel the APOA to stop its practice of paying funds for officers to help get out of Albuquerque when they’ve been involved in a shooting. From the spending of APOA funds at cigar shops to the mayor’s politicization of this issue, there are so many lies involved and being expressed by persons of leadership we can hardly keep up. These revelations however lead to more question as asked by current APOA members:
•Was personal spending of union funds by APOA President Olivas and now current APOA President Sigala ever explained and reigned in?
•How much has Sigala in fact paid himself in addition to his police salary?
•What hours worked justify this payment to Sigala?
•How much has Garcia been paid in addition to his police salary?
•What hours worked justify this payment to Sigala?
•How much were APOA executive board members in fact paid in Christmas bonuses? How long has this practice been going on?
•What other per diem funds has the APOA paid out to other members?
•What precisely is Ron Olivas’s job function within the APOA and what is salary, and what benefits does the APOA provide to him?
•Why does the APOA vigorously defend some officers in asserting their rights and abandon others?
•When exactly did President Sigala’s wife work at the APOA, what were her hours and how much money was she exactly paid?
•Why does Sigala remain silent in front of Chief Schultz’s lie about not being aware of the APOA policy to support officers after they’ve been involved in a shooting?
While we agree with the APOA that how they spend their money is none of the public’s concern. However it is of immediate concern to the membership. The membership expresses to us that there is unfair and unequal treatment as to how officers are represented by the APOA and they are concerned that if they speak out they will find themselves at odds with Sigala and Garcia who seem to practice personnel issues much like Chief Schultz: with vindictiveness. President Sigala said “he’d rather resign than do a cop.” If that the case, why did the APOA NOT represent APD Officer Doyle in his recent termination? Our eyes tell us Sigala had seen the disputed video with Chief Schultz well before a second IA inquiry yet did nothing to help Doyle keep his job. Why did the APOA not only fail to represent APD Officer Ahrensfield but provide cover and employment to Officer Olivas who facilitated the events that led to Ahrensfield’s termination? One officer was fired and faced criminal charges while the other got three weeks off and now works for the APOA. Why is President Sigala granting cover to Chief Schultz who knew and always has known about the APOA’s payment to officers after shooting incidents? The facts supporting these questions reveal there is much merit to the claim that the APOA picks and chooses what battles it’s going to fight rather than following the words offered on its t-shirts: Honor, Code, and Loyalty.
Lastly, and possibly most unsettling, the Mayor has inserted himself into an issue that he has no stake in. If he in fact can order the APOA to stop spending money in this instance, can he order the APOA to stop spending money in other instances? If the APOA wants to support a candidate who opposes Berry in the next election, can he order the APOA to keep from spending money in support of the candidate?
These are some of the biggest issues to yet challenge the APOA and APD in the history of their institutions. We at the Eye believe in Honor, Code, and Loyalty amongst the profession of police officers. Our advice to all of the APD officers out there is to step up and get involved because you are seeing the destruction of two noble institutions at the hands of people who prey upon your lack of involvement.
46 comments:
What's the point of a board if there's no accountability? You mean to say that Joey was taking this money and not a single board member noticed? BS! The entire board is guilty. It took members having to confront the board in order for this to come to light. If the members knew, you can't say the immediate board didn't know. Aren't you guys Cops? Aren't you supposed to be suspicious by nature? It's been know for a fact by many that Joey was spending the Union's money like it was his. Shame on the board for turning a blind eye. You all are just as guilty for keeping silent!
In addition to my personal view I have also garnered the views of a number of retired officers of various ranks. Our common thoughts are why is the APOA membership paying the President and Vice-President monies on top of their salaries for a doing a job they volunteered to do.
During my tenure as a Lt. working in the newly created Staff Audit section I became concerned as to the spending habits of the APOA. According to the by-laws, as a member I had every right to "examine" the books. As a command officer the APOA viewed me as "spy" for the administration which I think anyone who knows me would find laughable.
Members of the APOA it is your money, demand yearly audits, monthly finance reports and spend your money wisely.
Joey needs to be brought up on criminal charges. I also understand that his wife recieved 6000 dollars in one month. Wow
The APOA President even hiring his wife to do APOA work is extremely upsetting. Why in the world would APOA members allow this to even happen ? I am glad to be retired from APD and often wondered where dues ever went. What in the world are you showing the public ? No wonder officers get bad publicity. APOA is embarrassing every officer that still works for APD. Sigala move on and let someone else ride that gravy train for awhile. Damn
Zetas!?!? Hahahaha. More like Gorditas!
Just in, Joey and Felipe resigned today. Go figure. APOA still needs to hold its ground for the benevolant fund for O.I.S. This needs to stand. Take care our brothers and sisters in blue. Keep your heads up. Lets get the association going in the right direction, its been a long time coming.
Bravo, Bravo, Bravo on this article. At last the uncensored truth is starting to come out.
All of you should certainly follow the Eye's advice as stated in the last sentence of this article. You can make it happen if you get involved.
"Our advice to all of the APD officers out there is to step up and get involved because you are seeing the destruction of two noble institutions at the hands of people who prey upon your lack of involvement."
Thanks Again, "Eye"
Sigala also had the DWI Seizure Unit tow his POV. What an abuse of power... What a CHEAP bastard... To quote A FEW GOOD MEN --- And the HITS just keep on COMING.... This is just the beginning...
Lack of involvement or not, not one single person on that APOA board has the right to treat that money like it's their very own. I hear so much about Joey this and Joey that but where in the hell is the treasurer in all this? Matt Fisher needs to buck up and answer some questions as to why he never spoke up when Joey and Co. were on their spending spree. Either he condoned the behavior and turned a blind eye or he's so negligent and stupid that he didn't care. Either way he needs to do everyone a favor and follow suit by resigning. This department is crumbling from the inside out thanks to it's very own.
Where has the membership been throughout this? The blame lies not only with the board but the entire membership. If you care about your career then get involved in the Association. Who is going to step up and run for the vacant executive board positions. Let's go folks, instead of sitting in the stands and heckling the players have some intestinal fortitude and take on the position. If not, then live with the decisions of those who do.
Everybody slams on Chief Schultz but I for one would like to thank him for being a good leader. At the quarterly managers meeting this month he gave all of us the afternoon off, no charge. He told us to go home and enjoy the rest of the day with our families. This is not a horrible person, but someone who puts family first. I enjoyed the time and not having to put in for vacation was a nice plus.
Post the books online and put some sunshine on things n quit acting like the regulr pols that run this state for crissakes!!!
This is what the Mayor wants. If they resigned we are screwed. If you didnt hear he is looking for $10 mil for his road so guess where that will come from. Kiss another 5% from your check good-bye. As bad as it was it will now be much worse.
Get off your lazy ass and go to the office and review the books!
What a bunch of cry baby cops. Stop bitching about others when you yourself don't get involved. The membership let this happen by not getting involved. If you refuse to admit this than you are no different then Berry, Schultz and Sigala,
Grow some balls and make change or live with the status quo..
Joe Q. Public
The article on the Eye is correct. I tried to get an accounting of A.P.O.A. finances but was blocked at every turn. I did not say it then and I will not say it now, I don't accuse anyone of anything. Having said that there are serious questions about spending of members dues that need to be addressed. If nothing is wrong then why not have and independent audit of the books and show everyone everything is on the up and up. Hiding financial information makes it worse. I have always taken the officers concerns and tried to make a difference, but one person can do little. Then you are labled as a trouble maker or crazy. I can't agree more it is way past time that all of you stand up together and stop the death of The City, Police Dept. and The A.P.O.A.. A special message to Ron Olivas: News travels fast and you may not like me I don't really care. I think most on the department like me and what I try to do for them and will continue to do for them weather you like it or not. I was also told that Joey on his last day in office signed a contract with you so you can't be fired. Is this true ? POST YOUR ANSWER FOR EVERYONE TO SEE. I will be happy to meet with you and buy you lunch( MY TREAT NO A.P.O.A. FUNDS SPENT ) to discuss our differences.
Organizations are entitled to respond to fiscal demands with whatever belt tightening measures they want. It does not matter how tight Olivas's contract is, it can be cast aside like the dirt that it is if the Apoa needs to.
To the goofball at 8 30 who loves the Chief, ARE YOU KIDDING ME?
Just how much taxpayer money was wasted that afternoon when he let everyone (almost 150 people) go home free of charge? What a great way to manage the publics money. This needs to be investigated, I want to know how much money the taxpayer spent to let all these police supervisors have the afternoon off free of charge. This is unbelievable!
Paul,
Consider the source. Olivas is a criminal who made a deal and fucked over another cop to come out on top. He is a coward who cried when he heard that he was going to jail, and begged like a pantywaste, yet he walks around like big man on campus around the union. The punk. If indeed a contract like that was signed, the motivation for it would surely nullify it. A half ass lawyer could rip that to pieces. That is what the bylaws are for. These criminals never learn. Hopefully they will be indicted. One thing can be said, they seem to take their own advice when the heat gets turned on. Run like cowards.
Hey Joe Q Public,
Just as you as a citizen should feel confident in the abilities and integrity of your officers, so shoukld the officers in those that are supposed to represent, defend, and manage them.
So by your ignorant, unintelligent standards, rape victims let their rape occur because they didn't scratch and claw hard enough. The poor mom and pop shop let themselves get robbed because they happened to prop open the front door to their store to let in a spring breeze.
A union should be autonomous. It should also be expected that those that do for the union are doing for their own as they would a family. That being said, this situation is a criminal perversion and thiose responsible are the ones who were tasked with the trust of their members to do what is right whether or not someone is watching.
You sir are not the kind of person I would want to supervise. I guess it's all your bosses fault that when you steal because he looked away for a minute.
Thank God I don't have people close to me like you, and the likes of the APOA President and Vice President.
After reading your response I would be inclined to tell you to solve your own crimes, catch your own criminals, pick up your own trash, and wipe your own ass but I wouldn't want to sound like you.
So where do we go now? what happens to the Dept without an APOA President/VP? Who steps up and how much worse does it get? And why is everyone on this blog so self serving? Everyones a Lobo!
Olivas won't respond here because he knows that he'll be embarrassed here for what he is. A punk.
Dont be blaming the Mayor because we dont have raises. The previous contract that was to good to be true but everyone voted yes. Guess what. I voted no and not for selfish reasons everyone knew the economy was taken a dump. It should have been voted down.
Paul Who? You have got to be kidding. You wanna meet with Ron to discuss your differences. Ron was the one who brought the truth to light you moron. I dont think he liked working with Joey and Flip as much as you think Heh.
I for one think you are a nice guy, but get over yourself already. You made Sgt 15 years ago and stayed a Sgt. You had a great career. Now leave all as well alone. If you want to support APD do it. I voted for Berry at your recommedation. Never again
Ron brought the truth to light??? Hahahahahahahahahah, bullshit. Ron's up to it to his elbows. But he is consistent. He'd dump Joey and Flip in a heartbeat to save his own as. Once a rat always a rat.
The Chief allowed all the Managers to go home early and no comp or vacation time was used??? He wants as many folks on his side as possible. Imagine if the DOJ comes knocking the Chief will say talk to all the Dept Managers they will tell ya what a great guy I am. But if a field unit wants a few hours off they have to submit a comp or vacation used slip... And the rule out in the field is STILL one 34 off per day per squad....
APD is a mess. It starts with the leadership. There are two things that need to happen quickly to put APD back on track. First, fire Ray Schultz and begin the process of hiring a new police chief. Second, if the APOA audit shows criminal wrongdoing it is time to decertify the APOA and start that association over. We must wipe the slate clean regarding APD leadership and APOA leadership.
Ron olivas again in the middle of controversy???? What a shocker! He threw Ahrensfield under the bus to save his a@# and the Judge in the case knew it! He was involved in the Levi Chavez scandal! He was involved in mis-appropriations of funds when he was the union president! Thats just to name a few-that rat will stab you in the back at the same time he is smiling and shaking your hand. There is something very wrong with with the APOA books and the money Olivas has been getting paid along with the $500 suit union members paid for. What did you buy at Lowes for $3000 around Christmas Joey??? Tell us what our union dues have been paying for,,maybe a hotel room with your girlfriend,,Im sure we will see soon enough. When it all comes out dont think the Chief will save you, Felipe and the Rat Olivas, people who know will push until you all are indicted! Remember Kari it's an election year,,if you try to duck away from this we will make sure everyone knows the truth.
Ron Olivas: middle of past money spending quesions, Levi Chavez incident, Ahrnsfield incident, now this. What else has he been in the middle of????!!!!
Nice! That half day cost tax payers around $18,000.
Seems turkey neck likes to play psyops like a true subversive dictator. Nice try, but a little like closing the
barn door after the horses are out. People still have to
tell the truth when deposed. A day off does not buy you an ally who will cover for you. Coward.
Love the way the 5th and 11th floor got to choose the APOA's interm leadership.. No other current board members where even notified of the press conference, except Fisher, who by the way supplied the checks for the other two....Damn you guys for compromising....
to March 29, 2012 8:45:00 PM MDT.
Another disgruntled little loser spreading false rumors.
The interim president just went back to the way the policy was before Joey changed it. Joey changed it without board approval.
Nice pool table in the APOA office.. Nice to know our money went to something SO needed.. I think an audit of the books needs to be done and if money was spent on things that were not approved then charges need to be brought....
Yes he is the scum bag. Anyone who would take a red cent off of the head criminal in charge is a scum bag. I wouldn't take a friggen life preserver off of the chief if I was drowning. Anyone with any honor would have told him thanks but no thanks. Solidarity is the key now. Don't drink that scum bags Kool Aide.
Every union member is accountable for allowing the missappropriation of funds over the years. No noeed for us to be pointing fingers at anyone but ourselves. Now we need to correct it.
As an embezzlement case, am I correct that the board would have to represent the APOA as the victim? Why have we not heard of this being done? I think now would be a great time for union reps to start addressing briefings to quell conjecture and rumors. On another note, why do those two dishonorable thieves get weekend off positions? Sigala on 4-10s and the other in ops? What kind of signal does it give when bad actions are rewarded? I would't want then in the field because I am tired of it being the dumping grounds for the non uniformed divisions, but Im sure there is somewhere suitable for their skill set.
I think now would be a great time for union members to start attending UNION MEETINGS to quell conjecture and rumors.
The union presidents have spent without reason for years. Several years ago on a trip to
Washington, D.C. to put Jeff Russell's name on the law enforcement wall, a major portion of the cops that went spent most of the time drunk in public. It was an embarrassment to even have anyone know they were APD and the money was spent lavishly for tickets, rooms, meals, entertainment. Seminars to Las Vegas are an excuse to gamble and drink but not attend the sessions. This was wrong then and it si wrong now. If cops are sent for semminars they should have to attend the sessions every day.
They learn this behavior from their daddy the chief who is the king of out of town events on the backs of the tax payers. Parasites, every last one of them. When's the next October Fest in Germany for the APD Gestapo? No wonder why that poser always wears that leather jacket. He's not only making up for his lack of manhood and cowardice you know. He should get rid of the stars and replace them with lightning bolts. How about a great big Hoheitszeichen
embroidered on the back with a rocker under it saying the dirty few??? How bout that you turkey necked chump?
From what I've heard, that pool table was joey's, and the union "bought" it from him. What a crock of shit. What man calls himself joey by his own choosing anyway? Cool guy flip too... with the cool guy nick name. They'll be calling him flip for a whole other reason soon.
How bout the APOA footing the bill for 34's to go to the national memeorial week in DC....except that ppl were put up at the Ritz Carlton? Nice digs for sure.
Hey, What other way to stay in a five star hotel than to do it on the backs of cops and their families. Joey and Flip Deny cops representation just for this reason. Know that. Officers are doing their jobs and those two scum deny representation to officers doing their jobs so they can stuff their fat fucking faces, stay in plush hotels, eat top end meals, play pool in their overpriced frat house, and generally all around fuck off. Some priorities huh? Every cop who stays quiet over this is a nutless coward, because it WILL be you next.
Who will show at the meeting this Thursday? Those select few who do nothing but bitch and moan but never get involved with the union? The curious few who finally want to ask question but really don't care? Or will it be those committed to making the union the power broker organization that we need to serve the membership?
I will let you know Thursday. evening!
About 40 showed and by the time the meeting ended only 15 were left.
Let's see if Flip, flips. He was there last night snitch'n for that rat chord Sigala.
They better start talking now before the FBI comes in. They love financial and white collar crimes.
The lawyer better shut his fucking mouth. I am getting sick of hearing about that guy crying foul and how it should be enough that they resigned their positions. No it isn't enough you lowlife bottom feeding esquire. If it were a cop, thiose two would be meeting with the chief, making deals, and throwing the cop under the bus. Then they would be refusing to represent. All for their buddy ray.
They are caught, and the embezzlement accusations are the least of their up and coming worries.
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