This past April, we reported about how retired APD Senior Sergeant, Paul Heh, filed a complaint against the APOA for the questionable spending practices by former president (and former officer) Joey Sigala and former vice-president Felipe "Flip" Garcia. Sgt. Heh's letter was not only in response to APD Chief Schultz's erroneous claim that an investigation could not commence without a complaint, but it was also simply the right thing to do. Many who have either retired or resigned from the department had paid money into the APOA's general fund and thanks to APOA lawyer Fred Mowrer"s email alerting all to the issue, it seemed those funds were spent unlawfully. In fact it seems they were embezzled.
Chief Schultz initially wanted to the keep the financial crimes investigation in house by assigning White Collar Crimes Sergeant Anthony Sedillo to the case, but because of Sgt. Sedillo's conflict of interest, investigators from the NM State Police came in--and are still conducting their detailed investigation. As we reported last spring, Eyes close to that investigation have told us it is not "if" crimes occurred but "how many."
Despite all of this, the new leadership of the APOA, Greg Weber and Tommy Henderson remained motionless and silent in confrontation to the events swirling around them. While Sigala and Garcia resigned in disgrace, Weber and Henderson dutifully stepped forward and did a press release in Mayor Berry's media room and announced, to the Mayor's benefit, the suspension of providing any financial relief to officers who had been involved in shootings. Shortly thereafter, the APOA voted for a new vice-president and former Chicagoan Shawn Willoghby was elected. All during this dynamic period and much of the period over which massive funds disappeared from the APOA's coffers, APOA treasurer Matt Fisher remained in place and steadfastly held that he had done nothing wrong.
Finally, this past summer the APOA invited an auditor to come in to do their own investigation of the missing money. Our Eyes tell us this delay was the result of the assignment of a committee to look in to the matter and decide whether an audit was even necessary and decide on a CPA firm to do the work.
Well, after months of work and review our Eyes tell us the CPA presented her findings this week. After years of abuse of spending member's money, after the resignation of the former president (and his subsequent arrest), and vice president, after the maneuvering of new leadership seemingly at the direction of the mayor, after countless delays to invite an auditor in, after the public announcement of a criminal investigation into the matter by the NMSP, and after spending over $18,000 on the audit, our Eyes tell us:
Over $150,000 was spent via credit card and unjustified checks during Sigala's reign as the APOA president but that because there are no receipts and by-laws don't specifically limit such actions there no wrong doing can be proved.
In an email released to the media this week, APOA President Weber stated that the APOA is at a "cross roads" and never in the APOA's history have there been such regularly low turnouts. Monthly APOA meetings have only had enough members to show up for a quorum in one of the last ten months. That means nothing will get done because no motion can be heard or voted on for approval. Weber's response was to conduct yet ANOTHER survey of concerns the members have so that they can best be addressed. Matters addressing treasurer Matt Fisher have even been shelved because nobody feels they can do anything.
We at the Eye are flabbergasted! As our Eyes continue to flood us with emails, the issue is not that the APOA executive board needs to hear from the members, its that the members need to hear from the executive board! Over $150,000 remains simply unaccounted and members are told nothing can be done. The annual income of the APOA hovers around $300,000...that means almost half of each members contribution is unaccounted for! The mayor continues to breach and violate existing contract provisions and Chief Schultz has driven APD off a cliff thanks to his endless changing of procedures, grand standing on false incidents, lies, coverups, and seemingly criminal actions, yet the APOA leadership's response is to survey its members what to do. Really?!
Mr. Weber and to all the other executive members of the APOA, the time for talk and surveys has long gone. Your members need to see leadership and know that they are being represented. So far it seems not only are their financial interests been cast aside but their labor interests as well. It is time for demonstrable action, because staying in-line with the APOA's concern for its funds with a "talk is cheap" mantra is not helping. Despite the Albuquerque Journal's best effort to deflect criticism against Chief Schultz and his endless string of failures, the fact is APD is headed to a manpower and skills deficit crisis. The things that need to be done will surely invite scrutiny from the 5th Floor and the paper, but what needs to be done is restore respect amongst the members. The members need to know you care and words are not sufficient. They need to see ACTION!
26 comments:
Anyone see the story on channel 7 last night claiming Chief Schultz is a hero for busting out the errant parade runners windows? He saved many citizens lives and they were just as angry at the driver throwing things at him as he drove. The chief smugly smiled to the camera and said its just his job to save the citizens from harm.
Corruption continues to permeate the APD and the APOA. A once proud police ageny is going under. Money is stolen, discipline is based upon friendships, an out of control SOP and no one at the helm to right the ship. Reminds me of the Titanic.
It would be easy to say the hell with it all but the eye must continue to alert all to the massive problems facing our department.
Move over Chicago you have nothing on APD.
All of the above goes on, and you have a castrated union who's president and vice president are owned. Joey Sigala up in the chief's office yucking it up over which cop to throw under the bus while stealing almost two hundred thousand dollars! You have police officers saying nothing can be done because there are no receipts. The credit card and bank records are receipts. Who are you fellas fooling? What is the union doing for it's officers? Rumors of failure to represent, if not actually having an active hand in conspiring with the 5th floor and IA to actively sabotage officers, lack of any public support for it's officers, and only complaining about officers who are so disgusted with them that they don't even want to go to a union meeting. Did it occurr to you union officials that the officers are sick of being lied to? Did it occurr to you all that they may have given up because they have seen what the criminals in this administration have done to officers who sytand up and do the right thing. They don't want to have their lives taken awsy from them. THEY KNOW THAT NOTHING WILL BE DONE. It is incredible that it has gotten this out of hand. Did it occur that you could get up off your fat lazy asses, and bring representation to the officers by going to briefings? No, because you puppets don't give a shit. You are only in line for the rewards of your servitude.
All the civil cases are great, but it always stops there. Nothing is going to change until some of these people are put into handcuffs and go to prison. Let these lowlifes pay hundreds of thousands for a criminal defense, then serve time in prison. Things will change then. Someone needs to smash the hornets nest.
Oh, and if you think it is bad now, just wait till you see the next batch of vindictive, spoiled, vengeful psychopaths anxiously standing in line for promotion, like a bunch of thirteen year old school girls at a Justin Bieber meet and greet. When these immature, self centered, inexperienced, milk fed, entitled,
narcissistic, selfish, bunch of babies get to the front of the line everybody is doomed! APD, it's oficers, the citizens, and even themselves because they are just as stupid as this administration, but even more stupid, because the stupidity has progressed Darwinian style around here.
Stay tuned folks, you might just see the first privatization of policing in a city with the implosion of APD, OR you will see it go down the road of teh Pojaque Police where BCSO and the state police have to come in and take over. It's not the fault of the rank and file. It will be the fault of those who are charged with leading the biggest police department in the state when they can't change their own flat tire or their bad hair day happens to affect their decision making to the piont they get a cop killed.
The cold hard reality is they are going to getr an officer hurt or killed by what they did to APD. If that happens it is their and only their fault.
All the good ones are leaving. What's that going to leave us with?
Friggn right in the "credit card" card Eye. Money's stolen...nobody cares. Sigala defrauds the state with his food stamps...nobody cares. Nobody shows up at meetings because nobody fucking cares. And you wanna do a survey-monkey type of thing. WELL GUESS WHAT WE FUCK'N CARE BUT KNOW THAT NOBODY HAS OUR BACKS!
You want our participation but are unwilling to do anything. How about you step up and tell all about all of the chief's dirty deeds? And dump that rat fuck Olivas out while you're at it.
APOA: Another Police Officer Axed
8:28,
Hahahahahaha....
Priceless!
And true but sad.
Hey Ken Walz and joUrinal staff: why don't you hold that same standard against Schultz and his flunky deputy chiefs and commanders as you hold Tillman to? With all those stars and bars don't you think they SHD be held even higher when they use their phones for racist sexist and criminal activities?!?!
The news portrayed Frank Tillman as an African American, was his victim also African American? The 16 year old that was pulled over and given a traffic ticket had been sex text by Frank Tillman several times. Is Schultz too afraid of the African American community to have fired Tillman. I think it is too light a sentence to suspend Tillman instead of firing him! What! Is Schultz going to put Tillman in investigating rape cases filed by females in 5 years time?
APOA why a survey? I was laughing at the questions asked. What are your plans? Release the findings to the media? No one cares! We as 34's don't trust you. Olivas is just as guilty as Sigala he took him under his wing and taught him everything. And the secretary and rented office space needs to go. If the APOA cared you would come out to breifings. We as 34's need to boycott and dissenroll our membership, it's the only way to make change. Form a new union with non APD affiliated leadership. So take your union meetings and stick it up Matt Fishers ass. We try to voice our opionion and get shutdown so we no longer care.
For those who believe the APOA is not properly representing them, your opportunity is near. Next year run for those positions and take the necessary action that you constantly complain is not being done.
I can't wait for this to happen. You will take over all of the Board and make immediate, sweeping changes! The membership will cheer, and all dysfunction will be repaired. The throngs of officers will be indebted to you and your ability to use your Monday morning quaterback skills to bring righteousness to those oppressed!!!
But, I won't hold my breath on this.
Standby for a comment from someone on the inside with APD on what they did to Doyle and Woolever.
yea the 10-15 complainers can run for office and fix apd. run for office or shut the &**K up
6:54, whispers in the wind you are. nobody fuck'n cares because you're insignificant. but i'm glad you concede that you've been worthless in being able to "fix" apd.
If Berry/Martinez worked for me and were running one of my divisions I'd fire their stupid asses. They both are physical proof that their crowd and element of the Republican party have no skills to get the job done, no smarts to realize they're failing, and certainly have no ability to lead. In short they and their ilk suck.
APOA Survey.
We've been lied to, we've been ignored, we've been cheated and we've been let down. And it's true nothing may come of the survey they've sent out, but one thing is for certain... change will definitely not occur if we don't take the survey! It takes 5 minutes, and it asks some brutal questions which I needed to answer if only to get my viewpoint out there. Take the survey, and tell your truth in the bluntest way possible. The fact that they're asking us this stuff is an indication that something positive is happening. One of the questions asks if the morale at APD is high or low. We all know the answer to that but imagine the impact it could have when they present these facts to the press. The results won't be anywhere near as credible if only half the cops surveyed actually answered. Take the survey!
Everyone here is right on target. Having worked for APD for years I am thoroughly disgusted.
You want to get more disgusted? Here is what was done to officers Doyle and Woolever by chief Schultz, his Deputies and their team of corrupt investigators.
May of last year Doyle was placed on administrative leave for an arrest that he was cleared of. Woolever was placed on administrative reassignment at the main so that the IA investigator and whoever else could have access to him. This was purposefully done.
The individual whom these two officers arrested was wanted for the homicide of Brandy Kent inside the Quality Suites @ 1500 Gibson SE on 1/30/11 at 9am. He was also wanted in connection to two warrants stemming from robberies, home invasions, and kidnappings. He was considered armed and dangerous and he was armed with a semiautomatic handgun. He was the most wanted person in Albuquerque at the time.
This was all known by the 5th floor, SID and every cop out on the street, yet when chief Schultz releases his one sided information to the media, he states that this suspect was just a "suspected car thief". (#1 downplay) AS a matter of fact, this suspect was so sought after, there was a surveillance video of him leaving the day of the homicide that was released by homicide and violent crimes, asking for help identifying him. (This has suspiciously never been brought up again by the news or the PD) Here it is:
http://www.krqe.com/dpp/news/crime/surveillance-video-of-shooting-released
After getting the video, Commander Conrad and another commander discussed it with DCOP Paiz. Paiz took the video to the academy where she confirmed foot strikes are used and taught and she backed the officer's actions. She changed her stance and lied to the media.
Here is where the atrocities start. IA sergeant Peck was assigned that case to investigate. Peck contacted one of the officers numerous times prior the beginning of a criminal investigation urging that officer to change his statement, saying the video showed something that it clearly doesn't.
This is the tampering with a witness that people are talking about here.
The chief called a meeting with all of his DCOPS, Buckner, and West. The word given to them was to get it done however they have to. The chief had already made up his mind to use the officers to take the heat off of himself and buy his way out of a DOJ investigation. Their investigation was predetermined. They were going to fire those officers if they had to make up what they needed to do it. They were told to intimidate the officers into taking the 5th by lying to them about what that video contained. They were told to intimidate one officer into changing his story or face prosecution. The entire attack on these officers was initiated by Schultz and Feist. Schultz ordered it done, and Feist was the link between the criminal investigation and the IA which were both done at the same time. Information going from the IA to criminal is illegal and it happened. The union president was brought up to the chief's office along with Olivas to show them the video and convince them to intimidate Woolever and then step away from representing Doyle, which is what Sigala and Flip did. The chief had his people in a roundabout way, using IA, the union, and the union lawyer intimidate the officers into resigning or not explaining their actions by lying to them.
The officers stood up and cooperated, despite the intimidation tactics, criminal tampering with witnesses and evidence, and outright lies. They cooperated, gave statements, telling the truth, and when they did, the whole fiasco backfired in the chief's face.........
The investigators were told to twist words, omit evidence, statements and witnesses that were benificial, and key to explaining what occurred and would exonerate the officers, proving their actions were justified. All of this was left out of their investigation. They were also ordered to go after the officers criminally and administratively in an attempt to get the officers by any means.
When they found out that the officers were fighting the illegal termination, and had won their unemployment arbitrations, they then started the attack on certifications to get someone to fall in behind them. That was no coincidence. They were also ordering threats towards the officers that favors would be called in, because they were angry that the officers were fighting for their jobs back.
This was yet again another extremely corrupt investigation against officers who did nothing wrong, but do their job at a time when a poor chief of police needed someone to use and frame as a scapegoat. These officers essentially were framed and the whole investigation against them was lies and the opinions of those who had already made up their minds on their fate, along with those who carried out the orders.
The lieutenant at IA was heard numerous times after his meetings (coffee with the chief) returning to IA and complaining that the chief wanted him to do illegal things to officers during that investigation.
There is a foul air about that investigation to this date. No supervisor will mention it, because they know what was done.
In fact, the chief waited for a whole new chain of command to be in place in order to ensure that the new chain would side with him after Murray Conrad left prior to sending the IA back down.
While all of this was being done, the city attorney was constantly consulted, until they just decided to fire the officers because the video was up for release due to the FOIA request and channel 7 bein neck and neck with 13. Chief Schultz was contacted by channel 13the night the officers were fired, and they were lied to by being told there was nothing new with the investigation. Meanwhile they had already released the video, and gave a statement to the journal. This chief lies when he claims non bias, impartiality, and transparency.
As justice would have it, as all this crap was being carried out by these individuals, justice was running it's course. People saw what was going on.
That sig alert posted here shows that the chief knew that the suspect these men arrested was wanted for himicide. Just ask yourselves, with all the over justification Schultz and Feist have been doing lately, Why would they downplay that fact? And the fact that that suspect was armed.
There will be even more on this later...................
Just know this. APD is run by a chief who will never admit he is wrong and he is followed by those who will do anything to cover up his screw ups. The chief stepped in this one.
They did the same crappy to brad ahrensfield and Orlando camacho that they did to woolever and Doyle. In Ron olivas ia file regarding brads incident it states that no criminal charges would be filed against olivas. Olivas opened his mouth in the first place and the union still has him as a representative. A deputy chief told someone in camacho chain of command to tell him not to do a second criminal interview because anything he added or left out the chief would fire him for untruthfulness. The lead homicide detective in camacho case testified that the evidence and camacho story match and he was telling the truth. Shultz didn't like camacho and didn't like ahrensfield and he did his best to put these guys in prison and he did the same to woolever and Doyle.
12:25, this will be what, the 3rd survey in three years. How bout leading from the front instead committee meetings? How bout disclosure of the audit so we really know how fucked up it is? How bout the 49 Carm and Nunez has gets put out for all to see? Ouch that stung huh?
Why wasn't Blume booked on a homicide charge?
10:49, Let's stay focused. I don't recall another survey sent out by APOA and like I said, not taking it isn't going to achieve anything, that's for certain. It's 5 minutes and it asks some blunt questions to which I gave some blunt answers. We all need to take this survey.
Nobody gives a shit about the apoa since they are pulling the same shit as Joey did. Everything is a secret. Release the audit to everyone.
Of course people give a shit. It's our union and we pay our dues. If you are pissed off about the audit results and want them to hear your voice, the survey is a way to let them know.
You'll never see the results. They are just like the truth with schultz; nonexistent. Move on! There's nothing here to see! What results?
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