The right thing to do never requires any subterfuge, it is always simple and direct.”
--Calvin Coolidge
This Thursday, April 5th, the APOA is holding a special general membership meeting to address urgent challenges facing the organization. In the last week, the APOA’s president and vice-president, Joey Sigala and Felipe Garcia, resigned their positions amidst a cloud of speculation of financial impropriety concerning union funds. Then as soon as Sergeants Greg Weber and Tom Henderson were installed as interim APOA president and vice-president, they threw the entire organization at the mercy of Chief Schultz and Mayor Berry by holding a press conference without board member approval, in the mayor’s press studio and confirmed a false allegation of “bounty” money.
We’d like to remind the faithful rank and file members of the APOA where these events stand in the context of a greater scheme of things.
In case you’ve forgotten, there is pending appellate level litigation concerning the collective contract against the city. This litigation is based upon an action against the city and the mayor for their breech of the contract and their bad faith negotiations to create a new contract. The department is unlawfully terminating officers faster and more frequently than ever in order to stay a federal investigation and consent decree. You have a deputy chief who was caught lying under oath and another deputy chief who breeched his own stated IA guidelines by protecting the lying deputy chief. You have department wide mission creep targeting “property crime” while turning a blind eye to the crime causing property crime. You have a city whose economy remains flat. You have a patrol officer bid list that is as low as it was almost ten years ago. You have senior officers leaving as soon as they are eligible to retire. And now you have APOA leaders that appear to have, at least mismanaged your money AND caved in to management.
While from almost every perspective it seems that APD and the members of the APOA are doomed for more failure and tragedy. Chief Schultz obviously cannot run the department. Mayor Berry obviously wants to get more out of you for less money but is otherwise indifferent to the calling one has to become a police officer. Schultz’s command staff and most lieutenants and sergeants are too cowed to speak against the herd or are simply part of it.
But for the rank and file, there is no better opportunity to come together as one. Bring sunlight on all of the issues and open up all the secrets. The only loyalty you have is too each other, the “leaders” of this city and department are terrified of the truth. Offer no quarter to the leaders of APD because they have failed you and will continue to fail you if you do not create change. If there has ever been an opportunity for you to take back your department and your union it is now. The dark side to all this is if you fail to seize this moment, the worst has yet to come. If you want to see change in APD, you are going to have to be the change you desire.
"Simple and direct," the time has come to Berry Schultz and all the trash he has been allowed to accumulate.
29 comments:
Berry proved to me early on that he can not tell the truth. Berry isn't even man enough to meet with me and explain why he lied to me and many other officers just to get elected. The election of 2013 can't come soon enough. This is the time for all of you to stand together as one. If asked I will help The A.P.O.A. in any way they feel I can. I don't want any pay just want to help. The administration can't control me. There are other retired officers that feel the same as I do. There is a wealth of experience that will help without any compensation if asked. Just something to consider.
God, Family, and Country. In that order and there is no missing the target. Law Enforcement can be the most fullfilling job if you take it to heart and be true to the badge.
Keep your head up APD. Things will get better, but you MUST stand in the gap now. Do the right thing even if your the only one standing.
Very well stated
2011 APD Annual report
Only in Albuquerque does trash try to recycle ITSELF. Lead into gold. I think not. you can't polish a turd. It only gets everyone welse dirty.
There is no coincidence behind the videos posted on Youtube by Schukltz and gang. There is no suprise that those videos were produced at a time when the upper command of APD led by Schultz is getting bombarded by founded allegations of wrongdoings.
this is yet another blatant attempt at the diversion of attention from these criminals and their illegal behavior with an artificial pat on the back from Schultz. Most of the commanders in those videos looked like someone waqs holding a gun to the back of their heads. And where were the officers? Not one officer in their propaganda fest. Citizens are seeing right through this sickening attempt at mind control. In fact that youtube account is disgusting.
Give me a fucken break already! If you are so concerned with the crooks in this city then where is the Criminal Complaint for the former union goons, Sigala and Garcia? Who will step up? I bet no one has the balls to do the "right" thing? When I start seeing "good" cops filing criminal complaints on the "bad" cops then the "good" cops get my respect. Until then, good riddance to all you douchebags!
Both the Police and Fire Unions need to get their act together, eapecially police, and elect union reprsentatives with real interity and honesty who are more interested in advocating for you than the additional pay and perks that come with the union titles and jobs. Berry is on course with the help of CAO Rob Perry, to de certify all unions, starting with Police,then Fire. Those of you who are Police Union members and Republicans need to wake up and recognize Berry intends to destroy your Union and your Department to promote his Republican, anti-union philosphy. Just watch as Berry is the only Republican to run next year and 2 or 3 democrats run assuring Berry of re-election. Berry likes to talk publically about how proud he is of cops but his actions speak louder than his words.
When will we see the APOA audit? Is there embezzelment? Who will be prosecuted? The public demands that this not be shoved under the carpet, we need the light of day to shine on this. If we have cops that are stealing the public needs to know, if they are not stealing, the public needs to know that also.
I do not know Henderson or Weber enough to speak one way or another about them, but I did not know that old witch SiSi Saenz either back in the early 90's. SiSi by the way is a little play on words since she epitomized being a "yes man" to the administration. Why the hell not she soon catalupted through the ranks like so many 34's do. Back then there too was pending civil litigation (lunchtime lawsuit)coupled with an abrupt change in APOA leadership. SiSi would be the interim. And wouldn't you know it, what was to be an extremely good and well deserved pay-out to the affected 34's was ripped away. Yes, the interim SiSi made a closed door agreement without a membership vote to settle the case. 34's who were looking to receive tens of thousands of dollars based on similar court ordered awards recieved by 34's from neighboring agencies instead meekly walked away with a couple hundred bucks. Some friendly advice to Henderson/Weber, don't cross your brother 34!!! As for the shortage of 34's on the current bid, if I recall correctly there were 340 or so 34's on the bid list back in '93-94 when there were only 4 area commands. In the meantime, two new area commands were created. That amounts to 2 commanders, 6 lieutenants, 20 sergeants, 12-16 detectives, yet no real increase at the officer level. Not to mention all the other "specialized" positions that have been created since then. Lets not forget that 7th area command that is about to be shoved into the equation. Remember when "they" say that the field is the backbone of the department? I think many out there will agree when I say yeah F'n right!!! Aside from the top end growth of the department, the city/metro area also BALOONED in size from back in '93-94. And "they" say "they" care about public safety, "they" care about "their" citizens. Truth be told "they" only care about cops when cops cost the city money and "they" only care about "their" citizens (constituents) when its time to vote or pass some BS project. Our city and department leaders have proved themselves to be nothing but failures as leaders and "typical" politicians. With all that is going on lately, it is the 34's who must provide the checks and balances to this administration before the trust of our citizenry is completely lost.
I noticed that too. Seems like the citizens are leaving negative comments on the news sites over the story. It's embarrasing. I don't see how making videos is a job description. I wonder what the chief would have done to anyone who wanted their privacy respected, and declined to be used in a video for the enhancement of the chief and his agenda.
I also noticed that the comments sections on all of the videos are disabled. Why? You would think that they want feedback from the citizens. They must be afraid of what will be said and the dirt that would come out about some in those videos. If they have no worries they should let comments be heard. It seems like another attempt to control what information is disseminated.
The chief stated that the videos were free because APD has a television studio in the main. Nothing is free. There were 40 videos. Everyone knows how long it takes to produce a simple video from start through editing into a finished product. That takes alot of man hours. Each of those videos had at least three command personnel involved in them. One had several officers standing in the backround while a commander gave his presentation. This might not be earth shattering, but it was not free. Total up three commanders times their hourly salary, times the technical personnel, times the officers times how many hours it took to make every video from start to finish...then multiply that times 40. That my friends is thousands of dollars to support one man's agenda to dig himself out of hot water on the backs of tax payers, and yet again using his subordinates to do it.
Seems like alot of propaganda and fluff and it looks like a direct response to the whipping they are taking here and in the media.
You would think that a group of police executives would have a better plan to institute change and shed a positive light on this department than this one sided / dimensional three ring dog and pony show. This is the typical mindset of that of a high-schooler involved in a facebook fight. I would expect nothing mor efrom this embarrassing bunch. Who thinks of this crap?
A television and editing studio... a go between for the media...Propaganda?!?!?
Does Schultz have a bunker under the main also???
It makes you wonder who they pattern their leadership after.
Someone here coined it...Would someone please take the makeup away from the chief. You have got to be kidding me. The obvious ring around his face is a trip. That helmet of a birds nest spankey hairdoo has to go also. How many chiefs of police don makeup and think having a police tv station is paramount to police work? Really? This place is more of a mess than people think. When you step back and look at this train wreck, you realize that some really dillusional people are at the helm here. God help this city.
Man I think the true meaning of being a Police Officer is being missed here. I read this blog and imagine little hateful Cops with nothing better to do then to bash there leaders and Union. No one wants to be the Union Pres or Vice pres because Cops are some of the biggest babies in the world. There is no pleasing Cops. I am a Cop but personally don''t like Cops and there attitudes, of everyone owes me something. Stop crying and get over the fact that we got ripped off and lets do something about it. Lets gain our honor back and stop slamming every public official we can. Greg Weber is a good dude Henderson I don't know about. IM OUT!
I love how when you search youtube for Apd Annual Records you get that Perea vid up first!!!
All I want to know is where is our $250,000 and if it was misspent or stolen I want someone to be charged. I certainly don't want to work with a cop who steals. Do any of you?
APD has a history of covering up for criminal officers. An old timer was telling me about a pyramid scheme ran by 15 or so APD cops back in the 1990s. Not one of them was indicted. Not one of them was fired. It was covered up by the politicians. Is this what will happen with the missing APOA quarter of a million? Joey and Felipe are given cushy jobs, Schultz waves his magic wand and it all disappears. Hell it isn't his money.
POST THE AUDIT!
It really sucks to be in this position. The APOA membership is helpless. The current Pres and Vice have already picked thier side with the first press conference with the Mayor. The retired generation is disowning you except for those with self serving interests.....Paul Heh (you wont be Chief ever!) and the divide and conquer is complete as evident with all of you cutting each other apart in these blogs. The brotherhood is gone. Its like an eposide of Star Wars watching Mayor Vader and the Empire destroy everything.
The union meeting centered around Matt Fisher. The checks he approved to Joey and his wife. Mostly for the move to the new office and trips. Matt approved all of them. Matt lost phyiscal possession of the check to Joey and tried to blame others for his mistake.
A motion was made to poll the exec board on their support of Matt and it was tabeled until the next meeting by the board. They weaseled out of everything.
Get with your local rep and give them your opinion on Fisher either a ya or a na because it will be addressed again at the next meeting.
So is there going to be an audit?
Albuquerque Attorney General's office:
222-9000
This is simple, you don't have to wait for any audit, you have grave concerns that your union funds have been embezzled. Certain 34's have plenty of details....Jerome Block's issues started with frkn chimichango's at Circle K.....
Why is this being called an audit??? This is criminal. It is called an investigation. The double standard needs to end right here.
Put those two on admin leave now!
Then you can put those stats in your next white collar annual report!
They would rather fabricate the image they are cleaning up the department rather than clean up the messes that are right in front of their faces... because they are involved in them.
@ "ANONYMOUS"; April 5, 2012;
3:59 PM MDT:
Just wondering . . .
#1: No one knows who you are.
#2: Apparently you are very angry about something.
#3: Do you really think that anyone is contemplating suicide due to the lack of your
"respect"?
The APOA board is acting like scumbag defense attornies and public defenders.. At each APOA meeting they will contiune to table everything and get to it another time. Just waiting for the officers to not show up to meetings and then once there isn't a quarum for a vote they will vote on whatever it is,and that will be it...... It will pass and then everyone will complain about what the board did without the officers input... Same shit different members.....
Everyone knows who you are. Everyone involved in the free vacations on the APOA its comming. I did notice a lot of Sgt's at the meeting on Thursday and they all voted witht he APOA. Is Management stacking the vote? Everyone who usually attends the meetings ask yourself have you seen those Sgt's and Lt's at other meetings or was this a first? It's for a reason.
Vote for change in three weeks!!!
That's dumb to think the sgts and Lts are trying to stack the deck. It's their money too that is being abused, you all need to stop working against each other and stop looking for the worst in each other. The real issue here is the APOA presidents have been taking money for their personal use for several years, different president same results. the union membership needs to have more control over how that money is spent, and every expenditure should be available for every member to view at every meeting.
It is their money but when the vote came to change by-laws to allow one trip per person they voted no. Thats where a large amount of money went to APOA members and to civilians.
So you want your board members untrained? IA investigation training, critical incident training, contract negotiations, media relations etc. These are all valid training opportunities that board members must have under their belt. While I do not agree with wives or girlfriends being sent on our dime, board members need to go. The idea that every member of the union is to go on a trip once a year is ridiculous. We do not pay union dues for training for ourselves we pay union dues to better our pay, working conditions and to protect us when we are wrongly accused. That is what board members do or at least are supposed to. The training for board members should go to the training committee for approval rather that the prez or vice prez and treasurer just writing checks!!!!
I don't think that anyone has a problem with the training that you listed. it is the lavish bullshit on our backs that's sickening. $500.00 a night hotel rooms, all meals, rental cars, WITH THEIR GIRLFRIENDS AND WIVES. The training is fine. The rest is taking advantage and just plain stealing. Dirtbags do those type of things. IA investigation training huh?!?! Is that when a sergeant from IA sits in the union with the president talking about cases, making deals, and setting cops up? Contract negotiations? Now that's a funny one. Pretty soon we'll all see just where our extra payroll deducted funds went to. If you do remember we all voted to up the dues to fight for our contract, not buy pool tables for the clubhouse, and breakfasts for everyone at wecks every day!
But my favorite is the media relations training. Well wasn't that money well spent?!?!?
Considering I didn't see one union official step up once to back any officer this year that was terminated. Not once did those two worthless union officials do what they were SUPPOSED to do. What wrongly accused oficer has been publicly backed as they should have been in the media by a union official? FINE. If board members need to go, then every one of them needs to stand in front of a camera LIKE THEY ARE TRAINED TO DO and call the chief and his band of rights violating bullies out publicly on everything they have done. But where are these guys now? One is working on the 5th floor now, and the other one is walking around collecting a check.
You want a new start? Fire that lawyer who thinks resignation from the union, but not the PD is enough of a punishment for theft for his pals....But whom screws over cops
April 10, 2012 8:18:00 AM
Your my hero! wheres the indictments on those three union heads???
CAN YOU HANDCUFF TRASH?
WHAT IS THE SHELF LIFE OF TRASH IN A JAIL CELL?
SAnta Fe FOP is in trouble with embezzlement indictments from actions that happened FIVE years ago.......
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