"When we're trying to do our job to protect the public and something like this ends up occurring, it's very difficult," said Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department spokesperson Jessica Tyler. Tyler then added, "It wasn’t a pursuit, but I think he was trying to attempt to locate what had been reported. I don’t know if he saw a vehicle or if it had been reported that a possible drunken driver (was) in the area,"
Tyler's statements were made in response to questions regarding a fatal accident involving APD Sergeant Adam Casaus this past weekend. And as Tyler made these comments, she immediately put her department's thumb on the scale in trying to sway public opinion.
Much like APD's chief Ray Schultz does when revealing elements of any high profile investigation as he tries to sway public opinion in his favor, BCSO is playing by the rule book written by Schultz: Disclose things that remove culpability by the department and render blame on others.
We saw this earlier this week when the Albuquerque Journal's Jeff Procter asked Schultz about the APOA's survey indicating morale is low in the department. Schultz's response exposed his contempt at merely being asked the question shows how out of touch with reality he is. No, said Schultz, morale is fine. When asked why DOJ is here investigating APD, his initial reaction was "I don't know" which he quickly recovered and asserted blame on officers involved in shootings. Would a real leader attack an honest question? Even if the results of the survey are flawed, the mere fact that so many officers answered in the way they did is evidence that there is an issue. But since Mr. Schultz is so quick to attack others and their standing to criticize him, let's not forget Mr. Schultz only has a degree from a non-accredited undergraduate program. So, using Schultz's own standard, it's unlikely he would understand basic survey mechanics or basic statistical analysis. Please Mr. Schultz, explain to us what flaws there were in the survey? Please tell us your assessment of the standard deviation of the means... Let us look at the mechanics you used to self report a score of 96%.
Whatever happened this past weekend which resulted in the collision, for an investigation to be truly objective, those representing law enforcement agencies need to keep their mouths shut in answering questions about the investigation. Adding speculation into the situation further discredits agencies already mired in scandal. And Tyler's agency of BCSO is not without it's criticisms.
The public's general attitude of local law enforcement has been challenged lately. The leaders of our local departments have failed us and have lost that trust as they continually try to cook the books with their "everything is fine" propaganda. Given the event involving another APD sergeant as well, we find it highly disturbing that under any other circumstances the SWAT team would've been called out to apprehend an armed felon but it wasn't. But the sergeant had time to get his financial affairs in order, surrender, get booked, get arraigned, and bond out before the end of the day.
These events tell us that once again the books are being cooked by the people in charge of keeping things honest and once again the citizens will be left with holding the bill. Mayoral Candidate Paul told one of our Eyes, "if the City [officer] screw up, they need to be truthful and admit it and cut their losses." What a profound thought...
One last thought for the day; has Chief Schultz been told to pack his bag? What about his baggage...More on this to come, keep checking back with the Eye for the "piecing truth."
46 comments:
The BCSO Deputy investigating this fatal is top notch. He will not risk anything for APD. Great article and hugh lawsuit.
I see one very disturbing thing about APD. The only people with an APD background brave enough to step up and put their names out there are just a couple of retired sergeants and a retired LT. That's it. Where are all the other command staff officers from the last 15 years? Several are back as rehires, don't they have an opinion of what is going on at APD? Don't they have the courage to speak? Or did they learn early at APD that silence is golden and by golden I mean you get to wear gold on your collar if you don't make waves.
This is the problem as I see it at APD. We have created a group of supervisors, managers and directors (sergeants, LTs, Captains, Deputy Chiefs and Chiefs) who play the game to get promoted, don't make waves and when they retire cowardly say nothing when they see APD going down the tubes.
Where is the loyalty to the constitution, city and police department? Why is it we promote people who do not have the courage to take a stand for the department and city that employed them for over 20 years? These people need to get in the game and help APD get back on track. Or they can continue to sit around and collect their PERA checks and not say a word. I hope they choose to get involved.
at 10:31....because the department lies and makes shit up and attacks those that speak up. People have found themselves "suddenly" audited by the IRS and had their name defamed by the scum that run the department.
And regarding the BCSO doing the fatal 45....I really hope so. Let things fall as they have to.
BCSO deputies need to do what the facts lead them to. Brandenburg does not just answer to Schultz, she answers to the people. IF the facts show Casaus was at fault then own it and save the victim's family the second wave of grief of having to deal with that professional hit job LIAR known as Kathy Levy.
Hmmmmmm.........
I heard there was a Command Promotional Phallic Imbibing Sodomy and Castration Ceremony up at city hall recently. I heard that a fat bald ear burning cherub was present, along with an adulterous punk of a half sissy in a suit who likes to wreck homes.
God help APD!!!!! Not a testicle between any of them. Not one. I hear that they are trying to clone a testicle from stem cells to implant into these research "candidates", but haven't had any success yet, because the corrupt ethics cells attacking the courage cells, causing massive organ rejection. They are seeing no positive results whatsoever in clinical trials within the APD command staff.
They are at a stand still with their brain implants also. Same results. Absolute lack of the presence of intelligence during clinical trials. No hope for success in teh forseeable future without a total change of medical and research staff.
Ray,
The Asteroid 2012 DA14 is coming tomorrow. Could you please get on it. and take your filthy henchmen with you.
Thanks,
You know Who!
I'll tell you what, sounds like there were 2 cups of coffee in Casaus's unit but only 1 occupant. Oops.
And I'm not sure Ficke's wife realizes how close she came to becoming the next Tera Chavez in a staged homicide scene. Subpoena all of the chain of commands cell phone texts and call logs asap Rio Rancho and bring those phnes to the ceLl phone forensic lab....
This is where we're going motherfuckers.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LU8DDYz68kM
Guess who the Lions are.
APD Brass, Past and Present:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ujwod-vqyqA
This is it in a nutshell folks!
How do you know 5th floor is lying? They start saying vague things like: "Casaus’ shift ended at 11 p.m. Saturday, APD officer Tasia Martinez said earlier this week. She didn’t know whether he was working overtime at the time of the crash."
Right because it's too easy to call DWi unit and see who was listed to do saturation. OR it's too easy to call radio and get Casaus's CAD record. Fuck'n liars, hid the ball behind Ipra and hope that 15 days of delay gives you time to move the line.
Sgt Casaus, my thoughts and prayers are with you during this horrible tragedy.
Sorry, but MY prayers and thoughts are with the two women; The one he killed, and the one he seriously injured. Their family was wrecked while he recouperated at home.
THE DOJ HAS GOT TO BE READING THIS BLOG. THEY WILL CERTAINLY LEARN A LOT THAT THE MAYOR AND CHIEF ARE COVERING UP.
THERE IS SO MUCH GOING ON THAT IT 'S HARD TO KEEP UP.
REDFLEX, REDFLEX, REDFLEX !!!!
MARY HAHN, MARY HAHN, MARY HAHN,
ETC, ETC , ETC, ETC
APD is lying. Causas should just come clean and tell everyone why he ran the light at over 80mph. Tragic. Breaks my heart to see this girl die this way.
'Alpha Charley' is one of the few APD members whom I've met (either personally or professionally), whom I respect. My question to the 'Eye' is "why do you presume him guilty"?
@2/15 11:01- the APD officer and his extended families throughout public safety in the metro area are indeed praying for those girls.
@514 -because that's what the Dept has come to. We're so surrounded we cant imagine anyone making it above fsb/det unless they're crooked somehow. birds of a feather flock together, and when they get covered in oil and other man made crap they drown together, unless someone gets off their ass and intervenes
@5:14, where did the Eye say he was guilty? The Eye said BCSO was spinning it w/o any facts. If Casaus is cleared so be it and it will remain as a sad tragedy. But if he wasn't on duty, if he was headed somewhere else while driving like that he's gonna have major problems. But typical Apd, no tranparency.
@ 11:01 And don't you think he is also hurting over this?
@0819..... He may be. But really is it comparable to the family's grief? Is it even respectful to compare the two? Not even, go shelve that thought its truly grotesque.
Our deputies are top notch,,,,but our administration does not tell the truth and will do anything in their power, lie, cheat, steal to get ahead! Power hungry and they will take out anyone in their way!!!!!
Our morale is worse that APD's!
That SGT should be charged with negligent manslaughter at the minimal. Vehicular homicide might be a stretch but let a Grand Jury decide. Since Kari is a bootlicking APD badge bunny, the family should demand a change in venue. My condolences to the family, I mean victims of another APD imbecile.
So where is good ole Buckner in this mess....he's the chiefs hatchet boy...is he conducting the criminal investigation on Casaus like he has with all the other "investigations?"
If his wife is a BCSO dispatcher there is a conflict of interest and NMSP should have been put in charge. It is not too late to turn it over, but I doubt that will happen.
APD Words: “APD extends their full support to the family and will remain available to assist the family in any way possible as they work through this difficult time.”
APD Action: We will only assist you AFTER we have hidden or destroyed any evidence of cover up and only AFTER you make us through court orders.
That there is in a nutshell why DOJ is here and where Schultz has brought APD.
It appears that the media is not going to let this go and keep this fatal active. As it should be. Nice Editorial which basically said if the tables were turned and a cop had been killed, APD would have made an arrest immediately. That is a good point.
All of BCSO 34's are good Officers and their traffic unit is just like APD's, which I think is good. We just need to wait and see how the investigtion shakes out.
Dont forget, anyone can request anything from any department via the open record request. I wonder if he was on his dept issued phone or was texting.
This reminds me of Flora Aragon in 2005. Another APD officer driving dangerously crashed through a wall off 53rd street and killed her as she sat in her back yard.
Ray was chief. The officer who did this was on probation. Ray didn't fire him, he gave him 3 weeks off. The city paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to the family in hush money. Brandeburg refused to prosecute.
Nice place we live in. No one is held accountable for anything. Oh but I forgot, if your not a chief you can't judge Ray.
11:45,
I'm suprised that Levy wasn't out in her pajamas buying up every surveillance camera system within a mile radius of the accident scene with the city checkbook!
8:16,
Because it's no longer beneficial for the chief so that he can make it look as if he is cleaning the police department up. That was pre DOJ when they would frame cops so that the DOJ wouldn't come and see the criminal things they have been doing. Now that THAT didn't work, they are in cover up and no bad press mode to make it look as if the DOJ is here for no reason. Intelligent Schultz and his Sergeant are not. They leave bread trails with every scheme they pull.
Exactly how does the BCSO PIO release a statement immmediatly following the accident in regards to the incident and a persons possible motives or actions taken, then nobody, not even the PIO who uttered the words know where, or who the statement originated from?
@ The Browder family; request the DOJ, the state attorney generals office, and Governor Martinez to intervene in the interest of justice. To see to it, all aspects of the investigation are above board, done with an objective interest devoid of any conflicts of interest.
Death demands responsibility, someone has to pay.
oh ok, so BEFORE Doj it was hang every cop as fast as possible. Now that we are DURING Doj it is hide and conceal everything? All I know is I did my multihour interview with them and boy was there are lot of discussion about lots of topics.....
@1:55 yelling about what it takes to make Lt - it used to be if you did something dishonorable you received discipline and that would keep you out of the next round of assessment center and in some cases strip your rank since your 34s can't respect your behavior.
Hey thanks for showing that anger management issue to the public "anonymous" or is that cool and calm coming from SL
The APD Sergeant that was involved in the wreck needs to step up and tell the truth. He will have to live with the fact that a life was taken. As of right now it is his word against hers. It doesn't sound like there were any independant witnesses as to the traffic signals. My God be with all that are involved.
As widely reported by APD the officer was running with his lights on, seriously doubt he had his audible sirens on. Which leads to the lights being activard and who had the green light question.
The officer did have his lights on because in doing so the officers' unit is equipped with an opticom emitter traffic light changer. The audible siren need not be on for the opticom to work. So, when the lights to the unit are activated the officer will almost always have the benefit of "the green light,"irregardless of any other vehicles position within the intersection. The APD vehicles electronic data recorder will answer a lot of questions. The mechanism of injuries sustained by the victims, intrusion of impact into the victims vehicle, total distance of force applied to push the impacted vehicle through and up onto a sidewalk all indicate speed and negligence being the primary factor in the blunt force trauma impact death of Miss Ashley Browder and the blunt force trauma injuries sustained by the driver.
Sticking to the officers lights were activated and he had the green light theory is a slippery slope and an extremely weak defense for the City of Albuquerque and officer Casaus. But, that's all they have.
Looking at the behavior exhibited by Casaus already, and seeing how unlikely it is he will face any consequences, why would he take any responsibility for his actions?
APD is by far the most violent, dangerous gang operating in Albuquerque today. I don't write that to be obnoxious or confrontational. I write this because more and more, I see them adopting an "us vs. them" behavior pattern. When you have a group of people in similar uniforms, well armed, and acting in total disregard to the established laws, what else would you call that?
But see, I'm not upset with APD for this. No, I believe the blame lies with us, the citizens of Albuquerque. We allowed this to happen by sitting on our asses and moving swiftly when the pattern of this problem began to emerge. This didn't happen overnight.
Just like with Flora Aragon, APD will suspend Casaus for a couple of weeks, the DA will not prosecute for anything and the citizens will write a check to the family for hundreds of thousands (or maybe millions). Why heck it isn't Berry or Schutlz's money. No one in this group will be held accountable until October when voted out of office.
Not exactly the same with Flora Aragon. There 34 Montgomery was on duty, in his area commande and dispatched to in progress violent call. Here, not on duty, not in his area command and not dispatched to a call. This isn't meant to diminish the loss of Miss Aragon, just pointing out that Casaus is in much deeper shit.
It wasn't 34 Montgomery, it was Z. Floyd that crashed on the WS killing Flora Aragon. Still, your point remains the same, Casaus doesn't have any alibi for his careless actions
12:12 is right. It wasn't Montgomery. Montgomery was the one who shot that kid in the back after he testified that he saw the biggest gun he ever saw in that kids hand, then stood over him and shot him again. They found a cell phone a ways away from the deceased kid and NO GUN. I believe a federal court judge gave that kid's family 4.5 million in the wrongful death lawsuit and Giglioed Montgomery and his partner for untruthfullness in their testimony.
....and he is still on the job and an APOA union rep
none the less!
BCSO should be investigated by the DOJ as well
Can't forget how corrupt our court system is....smdh and the people who run it.
I just wanted to thank all of you who are actually thinking of my two daughters and our family. I pray and hope for justice! Please please let the truth come out.....or please let someone come out and speak up because so far the lies have come out!
Prayers to the browder and the casuas families. Thank you to the browders father for not being malicious. A tragic accident happened. The family can never replace their daughter and the Sgt. Must suffer with the quilt. Everyone is quick to place judgement and blame when all facts are not known. No one intended for their actions to result in death and alcohol was not a factorso why the burning torches? It is very sad day.
You know, I really like this blog. I think that the citizens of Albuquerque do need a way to express their concerns about APD and all of the outrageous behavior that we witness ourselves and see in the news on a regular basis. I am however confused by the constant references to "right winger". As if being a Republican (and therefore wanting government that is small, lives within its means and does not encroach on the rights of the people) somehow has anything to do with ones ability to recognize poor police officer condut such as(but not limited to) running red lights and then lying about it,shooting young men holding cell phones, etc. Just a friendly reminder that some things should really be beyond politics. These are not issues that one political party has a monopoly on, all political parties are composed of people, and hence, all are capable of doing incredibly stupid things. We should keep the argument focused on what is wrong with APD, so it can be fixed. It is beneath the dignity of the victims to really try to say with a straight face that somehow this is a political problem, and if only the Democrats were in charge of city hall, then boy, none of this would be happening. Give me a break. It is a people problem and a culture problem. We need a police force where individual officers are free to report bad behavior without fear, and fearlessly do so. We need personal integrity in every single officer.
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I agree with you and this is PERSONAL to me. Flora was a family member and very dear to my heart. You know what else I find funny is if you google that night there is no info on it anymore. Information meaning any news articles, reports and so on. Last year I was still able to search her story......But as soon as the Dept of Justice started investigating its gone. Im so DISGUSTED with the system.
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