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| "um, I'm here, um now, but, um (smack), I'm not going to be, um, staying." |
Back on August 2, 2013 then deputy chief Allen Banks was promoted to Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department by RJ Berry. Like many, we knew this was an election time ploy to create an image that a hardcore fringe Republican like Berry could enjoy having minorities work for him. At the time Banks boasted, "I've been in every unit in this department which gives me great institutional knowledge of this department, that's why I'm so excited to be the leader." While we and many of our Eyes knew the real Allen Banks was not suitable for any position above the rank of P1/C, we were still surprised to see Allen's ineptness on full display at every press conference.
In September, an audio leaked out revealing Banks admitting he'd been at high profile crime scenes but lying about things he is confirmed to have done. Including endless violations of department SOPs.
Here's the audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q9Mn_pgS0Y
Then on the Sunday after Christmas, December 29th, in a huge front page spread, the Albuquerque Journal embraced the all but confirmed notion that Banks would be the permanent chief of the beleaguered APD. In response to questions about DOJ's investigation into APD, Banks stated, "If they come back and say that we’re doing everything great, then that’s great, too. We’ll continue to go forward and try and make this the best department in the nation."
Now on January 29th, Banks recorded a video statement explaining that he in fact is leaving his "much loved" family for the security of a job as the chief of police in Round Rock, Texas (see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oKqEV6xJD78). As he stated in his video, he cannot "gamble" on whether or not he'll be selected for his position on a permanent basis. so Mr. Banks is leaving for a quiet police department of 150 officers just north of Austin.
Just like Schultz "announced" his retirement after the Ellis verdict, here we have Banks "announcing" his retirement after the Ellis payout. Coincidence or another shove by Berry's little terrier Rob Perry?
Since it's clear he is not capable of the job and was really just a place holder for Berry's re-election, we at the Eye are not surprised. We do find it disturbing that for somebody who has gone on and on about how Albuquerque is their home and how they love APD, they'd just abandon it before being told a successor was inbound. But then again, Banks has always been about Banks first and the truth and integrity second. Remember it was only this fall that armed felon Christopher Chase went on a shooting rampage against the APD, and of course, there was little if any debrief concerning that incident and certainly no leadership by Banks that day. All that's remembered was, "we're hurting."
Well we're sure the citizens of Round Rock would like to hear about Mr. Banks, so in the best spirit of the idea that an intelligent citizenry is an informed citizenry, please let them know. After all if the city had truly vetted out Mr. Banks, would they really have hired a confirmed liar, habitual SOP violator, and tamperer of crime scenes???
http://kxan.com/2014/01/30/round-rock-police-chief-comes-from-department-under-scrutiny/
http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/new-round-rock-police-chief-named-15796.shtml
The question now on the table is who is coming in as either the 2nd interim chief of APD or has a selection already been made. Our Eyes tell us a selection has indeed been made and it is none other than former BCSO'r and current secretary of NM Department of Corrections, Gregg Marcantel. We at the Eye will with hold any commentary on Mr. Marcantel except that given he seems to be quite friendly with disgraced former sheriff and former PSD Darren White, we view him with caution.
31 comments:
APOA Steph Lopez:
"I'm saddened to see him leave because he was a great leader," Lopez said. "We had the ability to have someone who is willing to do what needed to be done to turn this department around, and I think the fact they prolonged it, the city administration, for as long as they have, they forced him to make a decision and go elsewhere."
Are you on crack girlfriend? Have you not seen the lies and fabrications he's done to fuck over fellow officers? Go fucken resign already because if you had ANY FUCKING CLUE you'd know Banks has fucked over more cops than your little mind can realize. You and willowby really take the cake. buh bye banks.
Bummer. I am sure the next person Berry hires is going to be soooooooooooo much better. Sure someone will say it can't get much worse, but I wouldn't bet against this admin on that one.
Gregg Marcantel will be OK. The filthy cops in APD who like to fudge things will find out that rules and SOPS are there for a reason and are in for a much needed awakening. The good cops will find they have a leader who will not put up with the bullshit that has gone on long enough in the "nation's finest police department." (scuse me while i go puke in my mouth...)
Marcantel is not without his skeletons..the botched arrest of a BCSO informant/pedophile, and something recently at his current position. Another 4 Hills Resident out of touch with the rest of Albuquerque!
Greg Mercantile will complete the "Republican Operative" take over of APD. Darren White still has tremendous influence over Rob Perry and no doubt Greg Mercantile. Greg Mercantile will carry on with the anti union theme RJ Berry wants. Schultz and Banks walk away without ever being held accountable by the DOJ.
Wow, I thought the Dems fucked this place up but these Repubs are making them look like rock stars. And you thought Manny and Marty were bad,hold on......
Stephanie Slopez will not be the APOA president after the next union election.
Here are the demographics of Roundrock, Texas, Bank's new home:
As of the 2009 U.S Census Bureau, there were 94,777 people and 94,272 households, residing in the city.[41] There were 33,089 housing units with 20,364 owner-occupied homes costing at a median value of $163,400.[41] The racial makeup of the city was 76.4% White, 9.4% African American, 0.4% Native American, 4.1% Asian, 0% Pacific Islander, 5.7% from other races, and 3% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race made up 25% of its population.[41] According to a 2009 estimate by the U.S Census Bureau, the median income for a household was $69,892, and the median income for a family was $79,417.[41]
There were 21,076 households out of which 47.5% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 60.5% were married couples living together, 11.0% had a female householder with no husband present, and 24.4% were non-families. 18.1% of all households were made up of individuals and 3.0% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.87 and the average family size was 3.29.
In the city the age distribution of the population shows 31.9% under the age of 18, 8.5% from 18 to 24, 38.8% from 25 to 44, 16.3% from 45 to 64, and 4.5% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 30 years. For every 100 females there were 99.1 males. For every 100 women age 18 and over, there were 96.3 men.
I think this has to be a joke, its the plot to ''Blazing Saddles''
Gregg Marcantel's wife worked at SID for many years. Do you really think he never heard how certain people treated his wife?
Woohoo!!! Albuquerque made national news again!!!
This time it is for forcing the only black guy in the neighborhood to live in an uninsulated house for years because the City issued all the permits then half way thru the job changed their minds but wont permit demolition
But hey at least we didnt shoot this guys kid. Well at least not yet.
http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-1079218
HEY BRETT NOW THAT PEOPLE THINK YOU HELPED US GET RID OF TWO CHIEFS DO YOU THINK YOU WILL START FOLLOWING SOP YOURSELF?
YOU KNOW THAT SOCIAL MEDIA RULE BUT HEY YOUR FACEBOOK HAS YOU IN COMBAT PAINT AND SAYS YOU ARE A SPARTAN WARRIOR FROM SPARTAN GREECE
WAY TO SHOW SOME REMORSE
Corrections will be happy to see King Marcantel leave!
GOOD LUCK!!!!
so after ever since Banks was promoted to chief and state that he was putting in for the job Berry says Banks NEVER did? Typical Brasshole, say one thing, do something else. And lil rosebud, don't think we've forgotten about you Will, or Eric, or Maca'rio....
Darren White is a loser nobody now and spends all his time watching other men. Occasionally he'll say "That. Was. Awesome." But other than those words of wisdom he's about as influential as RGHS cheerleaders with the Kardashians.
Not a big Allen Bank's fan here, my opinion is that he should have never been promoted beyond P 1/C. But look at it for what it is. Allen met the undeniable social characteristics that were perceived to be needed for the diverse ABQ community and political climate. Yes, Allen undoubtedly is a lazy, deceitful, mumbling intellectually challenged idiot at best. But, Allen is a player nonetheless in a game that Richard Berry is silently winning while everyone at APD chooses to attack one another rather go after the true culprit, RJB. Allen would have been a fool to not exploit the position and opportunities that have been presented to him, whether earned or not. And RJB would be a greater fool if he’d not at least attempt to support and identify with an Allen Banks type "interim chief “for this extended time period as he did in order to appeal to ABQ’s minority constituents. So let me get this… Allen Banks was good enough to be the “interim chief” for this extended time period, yet not good enough to promote officially. RJB from day one insisted that the next chief would be sought out based on his paid for selection committee which focused outside the ranks. And on the other hand, when the AFD Fire Chief retired, RJB insisted that the next chief would come from within the ranks of AFD. Hmmm, how decisively blatant, yet covertly racial is that??? Allen my brother, you were used for your “social characteristics” to promote RJB’s political career. Allen Banks would be just one of many 34’s over my 23 year association with APD who were promoted well beyond their abilities. But in times like these I reflect on that well known ghetto saying, “Don’t hate the player hate the game.” There is much reason for hate and discontent within the ranks, but until the energy is spent is recognized and refocused on the root of the problems within APD/CABQ you all will do more than continue to beat each other down and cause the public to lose what confidence it has left in you. The problems that have manifested at APD are not because of Allen Banks. Allen is a soft target who hit his effective law enforcement ceiling in 1993, but happened to be savvy enough by virtue of his “social characteristics” to perpetuate his LE career. RJB is the problem here people, let’s not forget that…
Very well said. You're right on except Berry isn't quietly winning, he has won. Sad.
City Council of Round Rock must be contacted, they can put pressure on the City Manager, thanks for sending your trash into my State!
"Thanks to Chief Allen Banks for 22 years of dedicated service to APD and the people of Abq. He's a good man and a good cop."
--Darren White
@ 6:43,
Not sure how you can say Berry has won when he is to afraid to come out of his office. I think he is barely keeping things together and its only a matter of time until the bottom falls out.
Wow the command staff at APD are the utmost in health. Never a sick day, always topped out in vacation.
This begs for an investigation.
Oh look who piped up, Mr. White a long time lurker, friend of the Legion of Shadow's and Marcantels role model. Take your money and run Allen before your indictment for tampering at Mary Han's.
Berry won when the people on this blog FAILED to show up at the polls and that SOB was elected to his second term. Talk is cheap, and much of the talk around here is all maliciously focused on one another. Get it together people...
... and RJB wins every time a citizen or member of the media views this open site and reads the remarks posted by obviously disgruntled 34's who do more than throw logs into the fire rather than provide any type of constructive solutions. Face it, no one who is elevated to the 5th floor will ever be accepted by the men and women of this department.
I for one, and I mean "One" wish the best to Allen in his endeavors in RR Texas. At least the community and the administration will let him do his job and not interfere with the hiring and firing process.
Lets hope and pray that the new Chief run APD the way it should be run and not by the 11th floor.
" RJB wins every time a citizen or member of the media views this open site and reads the remarks posted by obviously disgruntled 34's who do more than throw logs into the fire rather than provide any type of constructive solutions."
OMG, here we go with the you disgruntled guys bitch and complain act. Get that goo off your face please, we cant understand you!
You are correct. We need to keep our eye on the root of the problem which is Berry. He has created a culture of corruption in his administration, not just in the police department. It permeates his whole administration. If you are a city employee, you can’t survive if you don’t “join the philosophy.” No one with integrity can do the police chief’s job until the head of the snake is cut off. You can’t have integrity and work for Berry. Berry, YOU need to resign. You can no longer effectively lead. Your backdoor politics at the expense of hardworking and honest citizens are numbered.
Thanks to all the honest cops for figuratively vomiting the truth about this administration and risking your career in doing so. You give us strength to stand up to the corruption that we see and experience. It’s a sad time in Albuquerque’s history that the good cops are spending their time and energy on fighting our leaders rather than focusing on fighting the crime in the streets. I’m sure the criminals here love that!
@ January 30, 2014 at 11:48:00 AM MST
You just don’t get it. Look, I don’t have a horse in this race as I retired back in ‘11. But, I do care quite a bit about the real 34’s that are left behind in this pathetic aftermath at APD. And I am extremely proud of the service that I provided to the citizens of ABQ, but I am especially proud of the men and women who were true to their trade and “brought it” every day we went 10-8. What you and everyone else that insist on cyber-bashing each other with reckless banter need to realize is that the more you lash out at one another and expose everyone’s dirty laundry the less credible APD becomes, and the less credible you as an individual 34 becomes. Unfortunately under Schultz’s decade-plus reign in a command level position at APD much has become twisted and tainted, and less than desirable 34’s have crept up the ranks like nasty little cockroaches modeled after Schultz himself. So realistically with very few exceptions, no one at APD should ever be appointed to the 5th floor in any capacity unless you all want to maintain the status quo. But you don’t get. And RJB thrives on this. And you all feed into this. And the cycle doesn’t end. So no wonder RJB got re-elected, you all were too busy fighting amongst each other and posturing as mouthy keyboard warriors rather than stepping up and fighting for real. “The Eye” is a great forum that allows for an excellent dissemination of information and provides for the checks and balances within APD/AFD/CABQ that is so much needed. Our brothers and sisters at AFD are fighting the same fight much of the people here on “The Eye” are complaining about. And there are blue collar and white collar employees, AFCSME etc. who are all in this fight. But instead of beating RJB and his clan of paper henchmen like a tattered drum, you all beat yourselves. It’s okay to be dissatisfied and pissed off, there is so much that RJB’s administration has done to draw those emotions from us. But when you allow yourselves to become “disgruntled” RJB and his cronies don’t care one bit. That emotion only adversely affects you, your fellow 34, and especially the citizens that we serve. And that in-turn gives more support and power to the root of all that is wrong within the CABQ. APD is infested with the Schultzarian cancer and it may take several years and countless purges of 34’s via retirement to be cleansed. And RJB really stuck it to you when you all allowed him to appoint an APOA President a couple years back is just pitiful. But you took it anyways like little orphan Oliver saying “yes sir may I have another.” Like little pansies with no direction or fortitude at all! And instead the focus of anger went towards your current APOA President Stephanie Lopez who is probably more of a “warrior” than any of those left behind at APD who insist up flexing their keyboard muscles on this blog. Please take my advice and come together with common goals and solutions and bring “our” APD back to prominence. You all are better than that.
Forgive me for continuing to post “anonymously” as I still maintain a sensitive position closely linked to law enforcement and the CABQ and of course do not wish for retaliation or worse as a result of my dialogue here. But nonetheless, the real 34’s at APD who have our citizen’s best interest at heart will always have an ally in me. God bless you all and be safe!!!
So the evidence room scandal that good old Marty and Schultz swept under the rug was all Berry's fault too? Please. APD has been dirty in the upper echelon for more than the last 5 years.
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No matter where you are, once you see Rough Hollow, you’ll be home.......Love Banks!!!!
Banks will look like Cowboy Curtis from the Pee Wee Herman show soon after riding into Texas. A man totally out of his element trying to fit in. Like a turd in a punch bowl.
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