Is it Internal Affair or Affairs?

As week two wraps up in the Levi Chavez murder trial, yet more sordid details of APD's internal affairs culture are confirmed. Defense Attorney David Serna and Prosecutor Brian McKay compelled APD Officer Nick Wheeler to admit and describe on the stand the intimate elements of his affair with former APD Officer Levi Chavez's wife and reported homicide victim Tera Chavez.
 

We're not going to dwell on Wheeler's actions as sad as they are. But what startles us most, this is not the first instance where an APD officer has had an affair with another officer's wife. We at the Eye have had dozens of reports where Officer X is sleeping with the spouse of Officer Y. And sometimes that spouse is themselves an officer.
 

And in some cases over the last few years, parties involved have tragically taken or attempted to take their own lives.

Think about that for a minute. In a culture where officers must trust each other with their lives, they don't dare risk leaving their wives or husbands alone with fellow officers.
 

And even worse, in the dozen or so cases of entanglements such as these, there has been a total absence of action taken either by the department or by almost all other officers.  Sometimes the failure to act is as bad as an actual act. An omission can be as damaging as a commission.
 

What does this say about APD? When a fellow officer is sleeping with another officer's spouse not only does Schultz NOT deal with this but officers don't step up and deal with it either. If the officers won't police themselves in such intimate personal matters such as this, it's even more doubtful they'll police themselves in other matters such as evidence, use of force, and misconduct.
 

The Eye also recently received a report which states not only was Schultz briefed on the need to put a lid on this activity but what the consequences of failing to act could likely be. From what we've read, this report from four years ago accurately predicted where APD was headed.
 

Our Eyes watching the Chavez murder trial tell us, more omissions and failures to act are forthcoming. And we are told they are much worse. With this Summer defined by this trial, and the disgusting internal affairs of APD playing out across the world, remember that the city's current Mayor HAD an opportunity to fix this mess.
 

But like so many others in APD, and just like APD's Chief Ray Schultz, RJ Berry failed to act resulting in consequences measured in blood, money, and tears.

Last Straw: Public Safety Remains Compromised

Below is an open letter to the Eye. It is not just us at the Eye that can see through Schultz and his band of thugs...

Last straw…from the experiences of a retired APD civilian employee

I was out of town when Officer Al Walck died and was shocked to learn of the circumstances surrounding his forced retirement and death. It is my understanding that APD's Chief and/or his minions were pursuing law enforcement de-certification of Officer Walck, a retired, 38 year APD veteran, which is believed to have led to his massive heart attack and death. This course of action taken by APD management has since been dismissed as unwarranted by the NMDPS Law Enforcement Board. Will there be any disciplinary action taken against those who submitted the unwarranted, de-certification request against Officer Walck? How come the APD brass are able to continue immoral and unethical behavior toward APD officers and civilians with impunity, time and time again? Why are they allowed to continue to use APD's Internal Affair's Unit to intimidate and harass not only APD officers, but also APD civilians who dare to question their actions? And finally, how much longer will Mayor Berry continue to support this police chief's administration of the Albuquerque Police Department which has cost the citizens of Albuquerque millions of dollars in law suits and many APD employees their health?

I recently retired from APD after 26 years as a civilian in the Crime Lab/DNA Unit and wasn't sure I would make it out alive due to the stress from an incredibly hostile work environment. Trying to address serious issues of concern in the APD Crime Lab/DNA Unit, the other DNA analysts and myself brought these issues to the attention of our immediate supervisors, and then proceeded up the chain of command to Chief Schultz when our pleas for help were ignored. Instead of any positive solutions, our attempts for assistance were met with an increasingly hostile work environment. I spoke with Officer Walck last summer after he had another run-in with APD brass over the circumstances involving Mrs. (Darren) White's car accident. The paper reported that Officer Walck had been ordered to change his accident report by his deputy chief and he refused, which resulted in an Internal Affairs (IA) investigation. Similarly to Officer Walck, I had been ordered by my deputy chief to do something illegal and was targeted for an IA investigation when I wouldn't comply. Unlike Officer Walck, I did not have an attorney, so my charges were not dropped immediately. Instead, the proposed 40 hour suspension punishment (after 25 years service with no discipline issues) was used to try to force me into retirement by my deputy chief, prior to resolution of my medical issues. When I later requested a witness after being called to the Crime Lab Director's office (a valid request according to city HR), I was immediately reassigned to the Records division through IA. This drastic action was based on a trumped up charge of insubordination, which involved another IA complaint (never investigated) and I was barred from the Crime Lab property and Crime Lab personnel. This went on for 4 weeks until I submitted my letter of resignation, at which time, during a so-called "mediation" with only my deputy chief present, I was re-assigned to the Crime Lab to finish up my work. All IA charges and proposed punishments were to be dropped, as long as I did not "misbehave" again before I retired. These actions were not only a huge waste of taxpayer's money and resources, but highly unethical and, in my opinion, an incredible mis-use of police powers. As far as I know, the same individual, Deputy Chief Feist (acting as Chief Schultz' agent), who issued what I believed to be illegal orders, was also the one who targeted me for the Internal Affairs (IA) investigations, reviewed the results from the IA investigations, determined the proposed punishment that was used in what appeared to be a thinly veiled blackmail attempt to force me to retire, banished me from the Crime Lab on an unsubstantiated IA charge until I submitted my letter of resignation and then acted as "mediator" to set the terms of my return to the Crime Lab to finish up my work and the dismissal of all charges. How is this not a huge conflict of interest? The investigation of issues involving police employees should be completely separated from the control of the police chief and his staff to avoid any temptation to manipulate the system for their gain. Civilian employees should not be supervised by sworn police officers or investigated by Internal Affairs, especially when the city already has disciplinary procedures in place. As stated by Lord Acton, "Power tends to corrupt and absolute power corrupts absolutely".

In the meantime, public safety remains compromised. Upper APD management continues to ignore the issues of serious concern raised by the analysts of the APD Crime Lab DNA Unit to include inadequate staffing and the enormous backlog of DNA cases. Detectives have been frustrated when their cases can't be worked since the priority cases being worked have been those going to court. The public has been told in the past that the Crime Lab DNA Unit does not have a backlog of sexual assault cases to be worked- I almost fell off my chair when I heard this stated at a conference. While Mayor Berry has been hard at work addressing the Property Crime issue in Albuquerque, the public would be safer and better served if he prioritized and provided the resources required for the DNA analysis of unworked violent crime cases (Homicide, Criminal Sexual Penetration and Aggravated Battery cases), as well as Property Crime cases.

The posts I have read on the Eye primarily have to do with sworn officers, with little or no reference to the civilians who work alongside these officers as support staff to accomplish the law enforcement mission. As mentioned in postings prior to mine, there are many examples of harassment and a hostile work environment for officers who get on the wrong side of the current APD brass. There are many more unreported examples of injustice and harassment for APD civilians who find their numbers dwindling while their duties are expanded in order to try to accomplish the increasing work demands with less personnel. Many times there is little consideration or respect for a civilian's point of view- we have been referred to as "snivilians" or categorized as "the sworn at" vs. "the sworn", although, I do want to acknowledge, with appreciation, the recognition and thanks our DNA Unit received in the past from many individual officers or units like Cold Case and Sex Crimes.

I have written this in honor of Officer Walck and his numerous efforts to shine the light on unethical behavior demonstrated by some of APD's brass. As I have experienced, the chief's influence and power must be very extensive because NO ONE I contacted over the years concerning the DNA unit's issues would take a stand to problem solve unethical actions or orders our unit experienced…to include the APD Internal Affairs Unit, Mayor's Berry's office, the Independent Review Office, City of Albuquerque Human Resources Office and the city Inspector General's Office.

Enough is enough: Mayor Berry, too many people have been negatively affected by this chief and his minions during his tenure as Chief and I fear for the safety of our current officers as they deal with a disillusioned public and the fallout from failed policies. Please take a stand for positive change at APD that would encompass honor and respect for all people, regardless of whether they are police officers, civilians or the public that is served by Albuquerque's police department.

Cathy Pfefferle
Retired APD Forensic Scientist

Is Chief Ray Schultz adopting Libyan Leader, Muammar Gaddafi’s Tactics?

They love me! I will not give up power! Does this sound familiar? These are a few things that Libya’s, Muammar Gaddafi had stated. Gaddafi has also called for his armed military forces to open fire on civilians. If you listened to Chief Schultz, his personal feelings are hurt; he has threatened to unleash the Attorney General on a Facebook page. Why can’t APD put this much work into solving the Westside murders? All of the victims were belittled by being referred to as the “buried bodies on the Westside.” They were all human beings and victims of murder. Respect; you have to give it to earn it. This brings to mind the question of disillusion. Does the action of any of these people seem disillusioned or do they mirror each other?




Below is a letter to the Eye On Albuquerque that gives some strong points and is worthy of reading.


Way to go Channel 13. The MAM monster finally raises one of its tiny heads and unleashes an underwhelming and unimpressive report concerning what people are posting on the Eye and Fans of AP. First off let’s not tee off and hate-on this poor, young, underpaid and overworked reporter. Let’s save that for her news director, producers, managing editor and Anchors who approved and likely dictated her script. These are the people who for whatever sinister reason, insist on avoiding the REAL story here about police corruption at the highest level, and instead trivialize the facts into a story about police flirting with insubordination. The cherry on the cake was the out-take on the sound-byte with Chief Schultz being asked whether he felt he had lost control of his police officers. Wow, someone needed to tap our young reporter-friend on the shoulder and ask her if she had lost control of the interview. That question for one second made me wonder if she thought she was interviewing Kim Jong-II or Fidel Castro. Last I checked we live in AMERICA. Lately, at APD and with those in charge of decision making at local media outlets it FEELS like we are all living in Communist China…. Not to mention what the top brass has allowed to be done to Brad Ahrensfeld and The Bryans. But do you see the sadly ironic element of this story that aired on KRQE? Channel 13 IGNORED the real story about corruption that the very blogs at issue and facts clearly spell/scream out, and instead shot as low as possible for a story on the issue of control and censorship…. only to have the reporter controlled and censored.


While there is a culture of corruption cultivating at APD coming from the top down, there is also a sad culture of kindergarten crime coverage in Albuquerque. SO, if you are a hog-tied reporter in town, let me offer some insight. First of all, stop sniveling. Your bosses are going to fire you anyway it’s just a matter of time. You’ll quickly get too good, too expensive, too hard to push around, or some combination or all of the above. When that happens, you’ll move on to the next market and make more money and work in a more ethical environment. If that doesn’t happen you’ll move on to a bigger market and… see previous sentence. Either way, you have nothing to lose and all your self-respect, dignity and credibility to gain. Go get the story. Use your resources wisely and get interviews on the side when you’re out getting the stupid crap they make you cover day to day. Put it together and MAKE COPIES. Then present it to your news director. REFUSE to have it altered, and if it’s rejected SELL IT… TO THE ASSOCIATED PRESS or DATELINE under another name. If you have even a shred of journalistic integrity I don’t see how you can walk away.


The author of this letter asked that their name be withheld due to fear and intimidation created by the Berry Administration.


Channel 13 missed the entire true story. They bought into the poor me routine and were lead straight to the “slaughter house.”


During Schultz’s interview on channel 13, Schultz threw out a few cheap buzz words like cyber stalking and harassment. Chief Schultz ruined what credibility he might have mustered when he said, “this also is very ‘close’ to the line of harassment and cyber stalking.” This is not a game of horseshoes Chief Schultz; there is no almost here. Either it is or it is not. From your statement, it is not.


If you don’t like what is on a blog or Facebook page, don’t go there. It is kind of like a child, “Mom, it hurts when I do this…” Simple, then do not do that anymore.


The key phrase is public officials are held to a higher standard than private citizens when proving libel because the Constitution says people can speak out against government, research case law.


Gaddafi has his military and Schultz has his internal affairs unit. The use of either because of personally hurt feeling is wrong and illegal. Wake up! Ruling by fear and intimidation has not worked and will not work. This only invites the pushing back to regain freedom. The days of dictatorships are no longer acceptable.


What’s your thought on this Mayor Berry??




That’s what we thought…