Bernalillo County Sheriff, Dan Houston, has apparently “lost” his way. Houston had told Albuquerque Journal in May of 2011 that the Sheriff’s Department Helicopter was going up for sale. The reason for this proposed sale was the enormous cost of running the 3.2 million dollar aircraft. Houston claimed that he wanted to use the proceeds from the sale to purchase 40 new squad cars and possibly purchase a fixed-winged aircraft.
As you recall the aircraft was purchased by former nefarious Sheriff, Darren White, to fulfill his legacy of narcissism. The purchase of the aircraft was not needed and was strictly to satisfy White’s need for the “look at me” routine he is notorious for doing.
Then in June of 2011, Houston posts a job opening for; wait for it, a helicopter pilot. This makes absolutely no sense if they are selling one of the aircrafts. There is a slim to no possibility that all the pilots BCSO have quit suddenly. BCSO has two helicopters in their fleet.
Then in August of 2011, Houston reports to KRQE the aircraft that was for sale is now back up in the air. The Sheriff through his spokesperson gave a bunch of gibberish justification for not selling the helicopter and placing it back in service. BCSO has a Huey helicopter that works fine and costs much less to use.
Next and most recently, Houston asked the County Commission for a whopping 1.3 million dollars to operate this costly helicopter. The current budget for the BCSO Aircraft Unit is around $460,000.00. This brings the cost of the unit into the neighborhood of 1.8 million. BCSO has yet to deal with several different litigations that will cost million. For example, BCSO’s shooting on the Interstate with the stolen bus offender who was stopped and was unarmed and surrounded by over twenty coppers...If BCSO is able to squeeze out of that one, perhaps the money should be spent on proper training.
This is ridicules; the Bernalillo County Commission approved $800,000.00 in additional spending for the BCSO Air Unit. 800k for a helicopter that was supposed to be sold a year ago. The County Commission should be held accountable if they allow frivolous spending. First of all, BCSO has a good useable helicopter; second, there is not a legitimate justification for an increase of $800,000.00 other than pure vanity on behalf of Sheriff Houston.
APD has an air unit as does the New Mexico State Police. Perhaps Houston needs to learn to play better with others and ask for help if the need ever occurs. Commissioner De La Cruz suggested buying a fixed-wing aircraft, this idea only builds on Houston’s first suggestion. There are other resources and options available to Houston but he will never stoop that low to ask for help but then again vain people are that way.
At the end of the County Commission meeting, Sheriff Houston took a cheap shot at the public, "...I am not effectively able to protect them (citizens of Bernalillo County) the way that I should be able too." Commissioner De La Cruz, stated, "if you tell citizenry that you can't keep em' safe and other sheriffs have been clearly able to do so; you know, it's a question that I'm disappointed in..." The Eye completely agrees with Mr. De La Cruz, if Houston cannot keep the citizens safe, he needs to get out of the way and the citizens need to place a competent sheriff in office who can protect us! This is the vanity we spoke about earlier in this article.
Houston was voted in by the public and trying to scare the public, frivolous spending and liability is going to lead him being voted out.
Sheriff Houston; you need to reconsider your options and you clearly owe the public an apology.
15 comments:
Whats going on with Baird? A PIP?
Houston is a major disappointment and has disgraced BCSO. From his overt union busting, favoritism (how do you like that pimped out SUV.), sexism, and general a angry environment.
Sounds to me like a Democratic majority county commission has denied a valid public safety request from Republican Sheriff Dan Houston.
Yeah, DEMS are playing politics with the publics safety.
Come election time it's going to be pretty hard for the DEMs to run on the "pro public safety" platform.
P.S. Whatever happenend to the Journal Pavilion/LIVE NATION ticket scandal involving a number of county commissioners strong arming LIVE NATION for favorable contracts in securing premium tickets to events to also include being used by a few of the current sitting pious and sanctimonious commissioners... Stebbbins, Dela Cruz, Grisham-Lujan...?????
Just asking?
Over the years I have enjoyed reading the Eye. Every now and then the Eye goes off track and sounds like nothing more than the rant of a mad man who thinks the world is out to get him. For this article, I think the eye was off base and doesn’t really know the County or the Sheriff’s Department. Do we need two helicopters? In my opinion yes, The Huey was a surplus helicopter that was rebuilt. It’s a work horse that can transport troops from point A to B in a hurry, it can fight fires and it provides service while the A-Star is being serviced. The A-Star is a nice helicopter and does, what APD’s helicopter can’t do, during the hot summer days. The other aspect is the APD’s Air unit (as great as they are) treat the S.O. as a distant step child. If APD calls, we take a back seat, even on priority one calls. Do the helicopters take up a huge chunk of our budget? YES….. I can’t deny that and I don’t know who should fund it. But after seeing the A-star dropping water on the Bosque Fire this past weekend, tell me how it’s worth? Public safety isn’t cheap and the price will continue to increase as we evolve as a society.
The other issue that touched a nerve with me was the comment on the shooting involving the school bus and saying that the money would be better spent on “Better training” The Deputy involved is well trained and did what he felt was appropriate. You want to spend money on better training? Spend it on joint training between the S.O./ APD /State Police and other Metro area Police Departments to work together and communicate better. I saw the video and heard the Audio. I could be wrong, but the bean bag shotgun did not look like it was clearly marked and I did not hear the audible, “BEAN BAG, BEAN BAG, BEAN BAG!!” on the tape either. Instead the eye would much rather “play the game” of seeing who has the bigger balls and my agency is better trained than yours, than look at the real issues. In case you haven’t noticed, we all deal with the same people in the same area and all face the same dangers. I don’t care if it’s Bosque Farms or APD. The call volume may be different, but the danger is not. So think before you speak and stop ranting as if the only wrong at APD is the Brass. We all have our problem employee’s and we all have our issues from the top down to the bottom up. And to CLARIFY, I respect APD and many of its’ members. Many of them (99%) are trust worthy and do their job 110% each day, even with media scrutiny and other civil rights group hounding them at every turn. But don’t Monday night quarterback our one shooting in 24 months. I saw several things wrong on behalf of the State Police (three cars wide on the freeway behind the bus, etc….and I don’t see you suggesting they spend money on training.) But these are issues that could be resolved if we work together instead of acting like we are in high school.
Unfortunatly it is metro1 that comes to the aid of apd probably more so than our own air unit that always seems to be under going scheduled maintence or grounded due to high winds.
Thank you for that comment. I was on shift during the bus shooting. And you are correct. Those who were not there should not comment about what happened that day. Multiple agencies were involved in a pursuit that was not initiated by bernalillo county. We help...and we get bashed. Investigate the totallity of the circumstances prior to throwing stones.
Once agains folks, Apples to Oranges. You cant compare any of the agencies in NM. Albuquerque city has 10x as many calls for service as any other dept. They are all well trained in the Academy but the real traininig starts when you hit the streets and investigate crimes.
On average any swing APD officer answers 12-20 calls a day. There are 1800-2000 calls to 911 daily. Not weekly or monthly. daily. Those are the fact peeps.
I do agree on the above poster that the metro agencies need to train together. Why dont we offer overtime to BCSO, RRDPS, SCSO, and NMSP God knows we could use their help for the fair, ballon fiesta and downtown entertainment venues. Cross commision are the metro agencies. :)
Good morning freezeframe!!!!! New day better throw some hailmary's with you lt slopez.
Doug "knots" aka doug west dont forget to put your one bullet in your pocket for work today.
First entry OUCH !!!!!! Sounds like another satisfied BCSO Deputy.... Take your tidley winks and go home loser......
Why would you be dogging on BCSO's helicopter? Those of us actually on the streets appreciate that its actually up in the air giving us support not like APD's "ground1". Keep on flying BCSO we appreciate you and whoever the leader is in charge of keeping it up there.
Last sheriff that ever ever gave a shit about the deputies was Bob Stover. There isn't and never will be another Sheriff as good as he was. All Houston has ever worried about was himself and how much money he was going to get out of suing Ray Gallagher. He is egotistical and sexist. Paiz is simply collecting a check. Until they get down in the trenches, talk but mostly LISTEN to everyone below the rank of Sergeant they will never ever know what is going on in their own department. Easier to stick your head in the sand and live in the ivory tower on 5th floor. LE has changed..and in many cases for the worse.
The hell you say! A Republican? Bob Stover...but he didn't lick union balls...how could he have been a good sheriff...and chief by the way? His daughter is also in the Berry administration...
I agree by the way...he was the best chief and sheriff ever.
Are you kidding!!! De La Cruz was forced to retire from the County for embezzlement, not to mention the long affair with Al Valdez's daughter!
He then became a Marty Chavez clone!
This guy reeks crook!!!@!
Amazing....with all the money mistakenly given as retention bonuses...APD/BCSO could've gotten a high end helicopter....
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