TO:
Luis Saucedo, Department
of Justice, Civil Rights Division
FROM: Citizens of Albuquerque, Current
& Former APD officers, and Interested Parties
RE: Preliminary Report
DATE: November 1, 2013
On November 27, 2012 your office of the United
States Department of Justice announced the opening of an investigation into the
use of force by the city of Albuquerque’s police department. While the
investigation was presented as being limited in scope to the issues of use of
force, during the press conference announcing the matter, then Assistant
Attorney General Thomas Perez made it clear the investigation would be all
encompassing and stated:
“We
will peel the onion to its core, and leave no stone unturned. We will follow
the facts wherever they lead us. We will gather as much information as possible
from as many sources as possible. We will examine department policies and
practices, review records and interact with police officers in the field.”
Well Mr.
Saucedo, as you have seen over the last year in general and over the last few
days in particular, if there is anything predictable about the Albuquerque
Police Department, it is that as a police department it is entirely
unpredictable. And it has gotten worse. Sadly, this unpredictability is in
conflict with the goal of your investigation as stated by Mr. Perez: to ensure that APD is an effective,
accountable police department that controls crime, ensures respect for the
Constitution, and earns the trust of the public it is charged with protecting.
The
department’s unpredictability undermines the very efforts of APD’s officers and
detectives, its accountability to its community, its effectiveness at
controlling crime, and challenges its standing amongst other departments across
the state. A police department that is unpredictable is in contravention with
the very things a police department is supposed to project: stability and
order.
Instead
officers and detectives are pushed, pulled, and confused by false
representations by the city’s mayor, back and forth changes in their SOPs, a
constant rotation of supervisors and commanders, erratic city objectives, department
goals redefined on a monthly basis, bold faced lies by its past chief Ray
Schultz, and more lies by its current chief, Allen Banks. Mr. Banks insipid and disgraceful press conference will only be exacerbated by the lies he puts forward with today's press statement.
Officers,
detectives, and sergeants tell us over and over that they simply want two
things so they can do their jobs effectively and serve the citizens they are
sworn to protect: they want to know what the rules are and they want to be led.
Unfortunately
those are two things APD is sorely lacking: rules and leadership. As your
investigation has by no doubt revealed, rules in APD are subject to an endless
span of application. There is no constant expectation of what will be enforced
and how it will be enforced. Violations of due process rights rule the day
within APD’s application of discipline investigation and procedure.
Regarding
leadership in APD, the problems are endless. From the current interim chief who
shows neither the capacity nor the integrity to lead the state’s largest police
department on through most of the lieutenants, there are but few persons in APD
that are leaders in the best sense of the word. APD’s existing model of
leadership is “you shouldn’t have done that” when in fact it should be “follow
me.” From the current chief’s recorded testimony where he fabricates and
intentionally omits knowledge, his involvement in tampering with crime scenes
and falsifying police reports to the misconduct by deputy chiefs held liable
for civil rights damages, sexual harassment, to lieutenants contributing to the
deaths of fellow officers, the state of “leadership” in APD rivals that of a
poorly run organized crime ring.
As last
weekend’s incident painfully reveals, APD is in a critical condition. The
actions of a single motivated individual exposed the vulnerability of APD’s
state of affairs in a way no court case or investigation could ever do. While
the public in general is at risk because of the decreased services and
protection by the department, it is the personnel of APD that are most
vulnerable to harm. In a single incident, a violent individual shot at least
four law enforcement officers, targeted dozens of others, stole a police car,
persisted in a shooting rampage throughout the city for over 11 miles, and for
over 20 minutes not one supervisor within APD took command of the situation leaving
a field sergeant to bear the burden while chasing the offender as the event
unfolded. Not only did the department fail to notify the citizens of an
unfolding emergency putting thousands in harm’s way but it even failed to alert
other cross jurisdictional agencies.
APD’s
immediate debrief response to this event is to evaluate how it can train
officers to shoot from their cars while they are in motion. The consideration
is so absurd on its face given the endless failures that only a department devoid
of self-responsibility would consider tactics that are challenging to even the
most skilled of marksmen.
In the context
of all the incidents which brought you here, from police shootings, department
civil liability, misconduct and crimes by department leaders, and what are lies
at worst and obfuscations at best by city leaders, last weekend’s incident has
shown you but a hint of what the core of the onion you started to unpeel nearly
12 months ago is truly like.
On behalf
of the city’s citizens, current and former officers, and other interested
parties, we respectfully implore that your office move forward with the release
of a preliminary findings report concerning the investigation of APD. The city
of Albuquerque and the officers of APD cannot wait three years before you
release a report like you did with your investigation of the Puerto Rico Police
Department, they need guidance now. They need structure and stabilization. The safety
of citizens and officers alike depend on it.
39 comments:
Outstanding!
How about instead of shooting tires out they use "Stop Sticks" or Spike Strips... seems a little more safe than shooting bullets that may end up in unwanted places or injure others...
The September monthly report is online. It shows calls for service have dropped by tens of thousands since March. They argue that that means their policy is working because of the number of arrests, but number of arrests have fallen to.
Could it be we have reached a point where citizens don't bother calling anymore? Or is it that the new dispatch policies mean when you call you no longer get service?
DoJ please review any 24 period of phone logs and you will see the dozens of times we are forced to tell them we will cancel their call because they've waited hours for someone to respond to their auto or home breakin and they can't wait anymore.
The citizens have given up. Why do you think that Dad beat the crap out of the peeper instead of calling 911 and letting us deal with it? Because it is common knowledge we won't get there in time
News reports it was four minutes between when the car was stolen and when the radio in the car was finally disabled. WTF
But hey, Rob Perry will get a $33,000 raise. Highest paid employee in city's history. I wish I could walk through a crime scene and stand by while Allen Banks and Paul Feist take pictures and cracking jokes about Ms. Han's murdered body and make $180,000. Fuck this place, one giant dirty asshole of the southwest.
where can I read the report online?
Joe Monahan reports Perry is quitting his job as CAO.
The APOA / AFD / Albuquerque poor and middle class are the Oliver Twist in a story of greed.
They go up to Berry / Perry with their bowl of oats and politely ask for more.
Only to have Berry / Perry slap it from their hands and exclaim how dare they ask for more!
Then Berry / Perry go to KREQ, KOB, KOAT, Journal and 770 and spew their hatred for the unions, poor and middle class to all who will drink the kool aid.
And they get richer and we get poorer.
Good for you Albuquerque!
That was earlier this week. As of today Perry is staying because as a collective us city employees would rather take a pay cut and a coffee cup then be outraged over this criminal getting a raise that almost equals what our base take home pay is.
This letter to the DOJ is well written, but I wonder if they really are investigating or was it all theater? I have tried repeatedly for four years to get ANYONE at he Federal level (FBI, DEA, US ATTORNEY) to investigate the corruption I have discovered surrounding UNM engineering student Kerry Lewis' murder, but can't tell if there is sincere concern. "Ya we know APD is corrupt" is the usual response, so why haven't the Feds cracked down by now?? Are they also part of the "chain chain chain, chain of fools" ? The citizens and students here deserve a safe life ! It is their civil right !
Sir/maam, send us what you have via email regarding the corruption and we'll be happy to draw attention to what happened. We are sorry for your loss.
Eye
CAO gets a $33K raise while APD and AFD are going on four years with cut pay, ignored pay raises and broken contracts. Why anyone would stand up there for a coffee cup and photo with the mayor is beyond me.
You all had your chance, just wait, it will get even worse. Much worse. And as usual police AND fire will let themselves get walked over and lay down like the bitches they are. Sure they'll go into burning buildings, chase after scum bags holding guns, scoop up brain matter, transport children raped, and all that other shit, but when it comes to true balls, most do nothing. Enjoy your fucken coffee cups.
When Berry starts up his dog and pony show to give APD medals for Saturday's shootout I hope all APD officers refuse to attend.
If they try to force you go to urgent care and call in sick.
You can't go to the media in this town and voice your case, they are all bought and paid for by Berry. The only thing that will grab there attention is when you refuse to show up. That will speak volumes. You don't have to do anything more than refuse to show or call in sick. No other comment needed.
Imagine what Berry and his press corps will do when they throw an event and no one shows up.
IMO, based on prior experience I've observed in the good ole boy system alive and well at COA, the boss (mayor) typically rewards his Brown nosers with a big raise..before they leave so they can get a higher PERA retirement amount. Marty did that with the hated Ed Adams just before he retired from the City.All department directors do that for their ads-kissing, loyalists who give up their dignity for dollars. Personally, I have never seen such nepotism and blatant corruption as I've seen in my 13 yrs. with the City. I used to proud to be a public servant, as is my family tradition in Boston as police officers, firefighters and teachers. This experience at COA has soured me and shed a light on the corrupt, nepotism and quid pro quo activities of elected officials at the City. Oh, that would be the Mayor. Disgusting!
Oh it seems Will 'Shutterbug' Roseman was a little upset with the Eye yesterday. Should really keep your whining down William, oh wait that's your breathing. Well we all know your true feelings about Banks now also don't we...... Keep it up Eye!!!!!
Why doesn't APD have a Watch Commander working somewhere in the city every day of the week and every shift? That Watch Commander would, by SOP, be the incident commander for events like last Saturday. Instead, as soon as you make the rank of LT, you hit the gravy train of doing nothing and having weekends off. Most Watch 1 LT's never stay the entire shift. No accountability. I would think the Area commanders would check on them (they are their bosses) but the Area Commanders are too busy fooling around (It's just nature at play) and golfing with their buddies.
APD needs a complete overhaul. Get a Watch Commander working at all times and give that person responsibility. It is my understanding that the Sergeant who tried to run the chase and shooting scenes (no one else stepped up) was only promoted 6 weeks ago! If this is true APD is in deep trouble when you have a rookie sergeant who has his scene go to poop, this same rookie sergeant is the lead car in the chase, not one other sergeant or LT came on the air and said "I am Incident Commander" Nope they were all scared to take responsibility for something that was going very poorly. So they just quietly went along for the ride and let the rookie sergeant and officers chase this guy around, with not plan to stop him. APD command staff and supervision sucked. They should have been stepping up and helping but instead they were hiding. That is the APD way to get promoted.
That new Sgt handled himself better than most seasoned Sgts. I believe a Sgt from the SW was also backing him up.
Great job by Sgt. Lockey to take control. That's what a hard striper is supposed to do. He did what was expected of him along with all the warrior officers and deputies involved. I would not wish that chaotic scene upon my enemy.
Great job and thanks for all that you do THIN BLUE LINE
The real story should be how many times officers in this town respond to suicide by cop calls. My guess would be at least twice a week. People threatening to point a gun at cops or threatening to shoot at cops so officers are forced to kill them.....
817 you are correct. 1606...go back to kindergarten.
Can someone please tell Banks to start wearing a tie and maybe a uniform that looks fitted and pressed, when he is going to be in front of the media. It just looks sloppy for the chief not to wear a class A all the time (without gloves of course). Look at LAPD and the LAX chief at their news conference Friday afternoon, hours after the TSA shooting. Both looked immaculate. Ties, sharp uniforms, etc. This is a recruiting tool. Go to LAPD and join a sharp professional force.
Now look at Banks uniform. Does it look as professional as LAPD? Where is the pride?
But no worries, maybe Berry will give him a 22 % pay raise too.
wtf 718 are you really diss-ing 1606?
Someone needs to educate the Tremendous Mister Banks.
The firearms used were both pistols, the ak variant was not an assault rifle. It had no stock. It was a CAI draco pistol. It is characterized by BATFE as a handgun. The other firearm is not an "Estava M57".
It is a Zastava M57. It is a Yugoslavian Tokarev chambered in the 7.62 x 25 tokarev round which by the way will defeat level 3A body armor. If you are going to put shit up on a big screen, in a power point fashion, on national television, at least have your shit strait. That was downright embarrassing. Who the fuck identified those weapons? APD really is going to total shit.
This shitbag Chase knew what he was doing. Both of those weapons were intentionally used due to portability and for their ballistic penetration and ammunition capacity capabilities. I don't know what was more embarrassing; the fouled up information, or the mumble mouthed, lip licking numbskull giving it out. Maybe that's why he ran off the stage so fast with his bodyguard tasia taking up the rear.
The 5th floor owns this shit because they have terrified officers into worrying about being fired for protecting themselves, and they have caused officers to leave in droves. There is no manpower out there. It is a shame, but this was bound to happen. The recipe for disaster has been brewing for the last few years.
Thoughts and prayers are with the officers and their families for their recovery.
The phoney baloney 5th and 11th floor fraudulent douche bags can go pound sand. You all know you would have perished. All you filth still care about is your pockets.
Fuck you self serving assholes.
P.S. I saw you say "tremendous" and catch yourself, you little egghead. Don't do it again!
Tasia the bodyguard! lol I love it! She does alot more to his body than just guard it! Believe you me, she didn't get up there to the 5th floor because of her Officer skills but instead her (other) skills.
Not one for police brutality or anything, but if you guys want to give that douchebag that stole the tipjar from Donut Mart a little backseat justice, I doubt anyone will really care.
You know, when I saw that Schultz endorsed Banks as the new chief, I realized that it was like an anus endorsing one of the turds it just dropped. After seeing these press conferences I am now sure of this.
Perhaps this is a dumb question... APD is down 200 or more Officers. At a salary of $53K, that's $10,600,000 a year in savings for the city. Double that since APD has been under staffed for at least two years. Where has that money gone? That could funds a significant raise for years to come and go a long way towards fixing the man power problem. Just saying...
I have more respect for the punk kid that stole the donation money from donut mart, than I do for Rob Perry. That kid at least admitted what he did. The common ground between both of the scum bags is that both took money they don't deserve, and that neither of them have any remorse for their wrongdoing.
This folks, is what Karma and Hell is for. Hopefully they are saving up boatloads of pineapples and turds in Hades. Someone is going to be smoking a lot of turds, and shucking a lot of pineapples with their balloon knots down there when nature calls.
I really enjoyed listening to those two class one criminals Darren White and Paul Feist on the suck up station known as 94rock. What better subject matter to have them talk about crime scenes than to have two criminals who are experts in crime scene contamination and tampering. Too bad the producer was too much of a pussy and didnt let me on the air Thursday.....
We documented this months ago. It's how Berry/Perry have funded the city's operating budget...on the back of Labor by downsizing APD.
This site really rocks. I come here every day for my dose of warm fuzziness at the expense of these liars and cheats. Thank you Eye for not charging admission to the greatest show on earth.
Stealth and TR....EXACTLY!!!! But include also on the backs of all city employees....none of us except the M levels have had a contract since 2008. We are so short staffed in some departments it's back breaking work we do, taking up for those who have said Adios..where there used to be 5 people covering at our library, we now have 3 plus a 1/2 time temp.temps filling the ranks to cover shifts because the City doesn't want to pay, train and pay out any bennies to hire city workers. Temps get treated better than we do. They get time off, where we are told you can't take vacation..we're too short staffed. If one of us gets sick, that makes it 2 and a part time temp to run a library that serves about 400 people a day or more. Exhausting, low morale, demanding, entitled customers who argue with us at every turn because we don't have enough people.They say but we voted for Bonds!! Then they are surprised to hear that Bond money only goes to books and materials, not staff. Then management gets angry with us because we're not supposed to tell customers that! GRRRRR.....
Yea, listening to swami and darren washing eachothers ballsacs was over the top.
Was this "memo" actually sent to DOJ. Memo's are only sent inter-agency so I hope it was sent as a letter and not memo because it would be unprofessional. If you think DOJ reads and gives credit to anything on this site that does not have an author think again.
8:31 & 10:22,
Crawl back under your rocks you pedophile, drunken women beating poptart eating candyasses.
Okay jeff dan and jay?!?!
The DOJ is looking for a "pattern" of misconduct, corruption, etc. Just recently an APD detective, Kevin Morant, f**** up a murder case by "negligence' and the DA's office fell into step, too. Morant and former Det. Mike fox already have cost APD/Albuquerque $1.5 for f**** up the Korean couple/Scott Pierce murders. There are other messes..
THERE IS A PATTERN OF DIRT !
THERE ARE FOOTPRINTS !
Unlike APD IA the DoJ will listen to anything posted here and anything you send them.
Don't believe the poster who is attempting to discourage you from posting what you know is true. Eventually this person will be found out and charged with interfering in a federal investigation.
Be smart, do NOT access this website from anything the City owns but read and post read and post read and post.
Every time they post about how the DoJ doesn't listen to this site it means one of us witnessed something they now realize the DoJ would be very interested in.
DOJ: as a city employee in the clerical union, I would like to know why management is attempting to deny overtime, telling us we can't take our breaks, cutting our lunch hour short, controlling what we say to the public, asking what my conversation was about when I am conversating with a friend. The disparity between the workers and administration is growing larger, and they (admins) are giving at-will highly paid executives raises, yet us down below have not received a raise in 4 years. Can you please look into this? Thank you. We lower paid city workers are becoming desperate.
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