White in 2003 partnered with current Senate Candidate Heather Wilson and TruTouch to develop an alcohol detection machine. White used $1,100,000.00 to develop and purchase three machines. White never used the machines claiming that TruTouch never showed them how to use them, however, in a signed Bernalillo County document; White claimed that his department was part of the field trial use of the machines. NMDOT later purchased a similar type of machine for $13,000.00 each from TruTouch compared to White who paid $126,500.00 per machine. When including the development of the machines, White spent approximately $366,000.00 for each machine he authorized his department to purchase. Our current ethical Sheriff, Dan Houston, has called for an investigation into the matter by the New Mexico Attorney General.
White was investigated by the New Mexico Attorney General in 2008. White allowed APS high ranking officials to use the NCIC data base to conduct background checks on their girlfriends and whistle blowers in APS in order to harass them. In one article located by the Eye it claims, “The Attorney General's Office found that Darren White, personally, had broken the law, the NMIPRA, in his effort to suppress the truth.” You get that part about "suppressing the truth" Governor Martinez? In 2008 White also received money from TruTouch for his campaign for Congress. White was trampled by Congressmen Martin Heinrich. The money TruTouch gave to White was not immediately disclosed causing other troubles for White and the County.
More recently Darren White was at the center of another debacle where Sheriff White and the County of Bernalillo will have to pay out $3,000,000.00 for the Sheriff's Department illegally seizing money from different people. The City of Albuquerque Police Department under the watchful eye of Chief Ray Schultz already paid out an additional $882,900.00, as reported in the Albuquerque Journal. $3,000,000.00 Governor; let's spell this out in plain clear language, Three million dollars!
The newest questionable ethical caper by White is the Brad Arensfield federal trail. It is alleged that White may have leaked information to a target via his girlfriend, now wife. In a story only seen here on the Eye, we talked about Arendsfields’ recent appeal. The story states in part, "In the appeal, Mr. Bryan admits that the information received by his wife was via White's wife. Mr. Bryan states that he was provided intimate details from White’s wife, which was provided by her husband, Albuquerque’s Public Safety Director, Darren White. Mr. Bryan considered Darren White to be a friend, another allegation White denied on the stand."
And last but not least, White has received two "NO CONFIDENCE" votes. The first one was from the New Mexico State Police and the second blow was a vote of "NO CONFIDENCE" by the men and women of the Albuquerque Police Department. White should have three; one was scheduled to be conducted by the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department but White left before it was done. Governor, if the cops think he is unacceptable, you should be following the facts presented.
Governor Martinez appears to be a very bright, sharp, educated and a seasoned professional with a potential to rise to a much higher level. Now that she has a self inflicted political gunshot wound to her foot by her own choosing; her chances of running again or gaining support for anything is dismal at best. Did Governor Martinez do her homework? Is the Governor going to now change the name of the commission to the "Unethical Judicial Standards Commission?" Does the Governor really want her name tied to Darren White? White out of respect for himself and every citizen of this State needs to resign and step down. Governor Martinez, wake up, based even on the appearance of impropriety you should rid yourself of this cancer. If you leave this appointment; the "bar" will be lower than dirt. Bear in Mind Governor Martinez; you are only as strong as you weakest link. This newest link is as flimsy as a cheap single piece of toilet tissue.
