As we all know by now APD's SWAT team was involved in a shooting Tuesday evening. Initial reports indicate that officers were dispatched to a used music equipment store in reference to a fraudulent transaction. Upon arriving on scene, field officers engaged in a foot chase as one of the suspects fled. We are told an officer saw one of the suspects holding what looked like a gun. Thereafter, a perimeter was set up and a SWAT activation ensued. As SWAT units searched the area for the outstanding suspects, we are told one was cornered where after a flash-bang was thrown at him in an effort to get the suspect to surrender. We are told then a SWAT officer fired his weapon at the suspect and killed the suspect.
But in recent weeks we know the SWAT unit has seen unprecedented turnover in its leadership. Last fall we reported how the unit's lieutenant, Tim Lopez, got into a physical fight with two of his officers. Only recently was he removed from the unit and reassigned. Then last week, one of the unit's two sergeants, Alex Catsis, was reassigned to patrol duties. Now we are told that the unit's commander, Harold Medina, resigned from the unit and went to take over the Southwest Area Command. This leaves Sergeant Jim Fox as the remaining supervisor of the unit.
Now the Eye has great respect for Sgt. Fox as not only has he led the unit well, but he has extensive experience in tactical operations as he was a SWAT officer himself. What we are concerned about is the amount of liability and exposure APD's Chief Ray Schultz is thrusting upon Sgt Fox. There's a reason why there are lieutenant and commander positions overseeing the unit. There is tremendous liability and financial expenditures involved with any SWAT activation. For a single Sgt. to be left with those tasks (and the mess that Medina and Lopez no doubt left) AND to handle the immediate responsibility of a SWAT activation is simply asking so much it is totally unreasonable. In fact, one would say it is evidence of Ray Schultz's deliberate indifference to non crucial staffing needs, but effective staffing policies.
But this shouldn't surprise us. Schultz has made such a pattern and practice of poor decisions and omissions that it is now a custom to expect failures at the hands of Ray Schultz.
In the meantime, if you have a history or tactical and management experience, APD's Metro Division has some openings:
Commander: VACANT
Lieutenant: VACANT
SWAT Sergeant #2: VACANT
SWAT Sergeant #1: Sgt. Jim Fox
Brave to Channel 13 New for reporting the truth on their site this morning. Channel 13 News headline is; "Suspect killed during police standoff." Channel 4 News was reporting, "Attempt to return stolen goods leads to police standoff." Channel 7 News reported, "2 businesses lock down as SWAT team searches for man with a gun."
22 comments:
Right on the mark Eye. What's so sad is the total manipulation by Schultz taints and overshadows the dangers our officers and citizens face. Schultz was supposed to do a press conference at 10pm. But he bailed on that because he knew all the stations would cover it AND it would make the Abq Journal. So of course, now there's NO story in the paper.........isn't that interesting........
SWAT take Roseman! . The numbers at Property Crimes are thru the roof since he arrived. He doesn't know what the hell he is doing.
Great experiment RayRay putting Commanders where they have no experience. You fixed Medina in SWAT now fix the rest of them while some of it is still salvageable.
SWAT will be just fine! The two removed knew nothing of SWAT tactics adn equipment to begin with, so they were more of a liability for their poor decision making...
Sgt Fox will keep the unit running very smooth without the interfearence from above.
It's about time Medina resigned as commander. That guy could barely put a complete sentence together, let alone oversee an entire tactical unit.
I listened to this scenario on my scanner and I don't know if it was Sgt. Fox that was giving direction to his troops (I'm guessing it was him) and he did an amazing job of coordinating every move, every nuance, every piece of information was given out concisely, calmly, authoratively, without being harsh or angry. (A stark contrast to a SWAT situation where Medina was barking out orders like a shrill old lady and he kept calling out an officer and critizing him over the radio) . Oh and when it was over,Fox asked his troops if they were OK. I'm sure this is sop, but I must commend Sgt. Fox for his leadership that I heard over the radio. I am only a citizen but working for a living at the City, I know leadership and great management when I see (or hear) it. Great job!
Yes, at least Fox is qualified to do his job. That is what leadership on merit looks like. Ray Schultz on the other hand is the exact opposite.
The Journal's story on the shooting this AM leaves me with two questions,
1. For EVERY article relating to past APD shootings, without fail, there was comment on the numer of shooting in the past X number of months. Not here this time?
2. Chief Schultz praises a Sgt. for not firing his weapon- even though the suspect was pointing a gun at him- for fear that people in the area might be hurt. I should hope that these officers are not losing their sense of self preservation. Are they getting to the point that they would rather lay down their life so that the offender may live. Chief we neded no more police deaths.
EYE, KRQE must be a supporter of your blog. Is this why you praise them even after one of their anchors has shown no moralist judgement, and corruption. KRQE should be ashamed of themselves for allowing that anchor to continue on air. I thought the EYE did not favor anyone, but it seems that KRQE is definitely a favorite of the EYE ON ALBUQUERQUE. The 10 pm anchor is a disgrace to KRQE. This blog has exposed corruption within APD and the City. KRQE is in our city!
Isn't Nick Gonzalez running swat now?
At 1:38....jello between your ears? The Eye pointed out the omissions of the other stations did it not?
Funny how Schultz just skipped right over how the call was HOLDING. Why was it holding? Because there are not enough officers in the field to respond. Why is that? Because Schultz has mismanaged this police department.
This was an in progress call that was being held because no officers were available. How long from the time it was first answered in the 911 center was this call holding? It must have been awhile for a sergeant to volunteer to go without backup.
People this is the problem with Schultz. All those cozy inside positions while the first responder cops risk life and limb.
The 10 pm anchor/skank is beyond disgraceful ..I cant even watch her anymore she's so nauseating ..but the Eye won't post this. They sensored my prior criticism of her. She needs to be subpoenaed to tell the DOJ what she knew about Ficke and his co -workers /superiors having a pattern of drinking while either on duty or when driving a take home car.She knows things ...make her talk ...little cheating married skanky bag of bones.
@1119 thank you for point two yes some officer is going to get hurt or worse because they hesitated when they shouldn't have. All because if you do decide to fire command staff will make sure their life as they know it is over anyway (unless of course you are RayRay's buddy)
When RayRay did his press conference again he handled the gun, just like last time, except now theres still an outstanding fugitive. How's the chain of evidence holding up when the evidence is on display in a conference room? And how did the Crime Lab process it so fast? Eight months for a SANE kit but less than 24 hours for the gun? Or did he handle unprocessed evidence?
"His finger was on the trigger and the weapon was cocked," he said.
Ray Schultz is a coniving, manipulating scum bag. Can this guy over justify this anymore with his bullshit embellishments? I would like to see him prove that statement. This asshole goes out of his way to wreck officers before the DOJ came here, because he was literally shitting his pants about them coming in and uncovering his bullshit. He downplayed the dangerousness of gang affiliations, and there relevance to officer safety, then lies about officers and throws them to the wolves (names and all) for arresting a suspect that was wanted on charges more severe than any of those shot in the last two years but now he sees a suspect's finger on the trigger and the hammer cocked on a .22 from his livingroom and a white supremist is now part of the totality of circumstances. This guy is a clown and I hope the DOJ wrecks his ass for trying to play them like fools.
The upside is that he looks like he is physically falling apart. Nerves must be wrecking him knowing that the feds already have the answers to the questions he will try to answer with lies.
I saw Apd was on CBS news last night. The whole nation got to see Ray's lies. Funny, a few weeks ago while being interviewed by Proctor Schultz said CBS was coming out here BECAUSE of Apd's training for dealing with folks in mental health crisis. What a surprise....they weren't. They were here covering the Ellis shooting, DOJ investigation of Apd, and Apd's shooting of people in mental health crisis. Imagine that, Ray lied again!!!
But now the nation gets to see the poor chief.cwhen he says "one of the things we're doing....." hold on because here comes a lie.....
As much as i would like to believe that schultz was in posession of evidence AKA the revolver i just do.t think it was the same gun. I saw a green tag on the gun. I dont know if evidence uses those or gun buy back program. He did indicate that was the gun that was in possession of denison. He cant be that dumb.
At least your chain of command goes out to your shooting scenes. The highest person at our last shooting was a LT. No Capt, CD, US or even the sheriff, no command staff at all. We just shot at someone, look at the liability. That's why we are so Mayberry RFD with our administration.
It's Andy and Barney running the show.
They could give a shit, trust me. The only reaspon why they were out there is because DOJ is here. They want to look "concerned" when in fact they are pissed as hell.
Great job by all involved on the recent officer involved shooting.. I only have one question.... How come there isn't any citizen/community outrage over the death of a white male??? Just asking?????
@6:51,WTF? ??Ellis, Mischelin, are white...so are a lot of the recent "victims"that are still alive like the felon in the parking garage, Bloomfield,Kevin Garner the worst of the worst...Go to a meeting at City chambers ....there's plenty of outrage there. It's multi -colored!
Jessica Garate should not be allowed to report on APD!!!
K-9 Sgt. Eric Brown was running that call out. Did a great job.
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