DISTRACTION TECHNIQUES; RESTART

Last Friday as much of the city waited for the verdict in the wrongful death trial of Ken Ellis III, RJ Berry and his cohorts, Perry, McCleskey and city attorney David Tourek moved Berry's re-election effort into full gear. You see, hours before the verdict which, on paper, awarded Mr. Ellis' son over $10,000,000 in damages (we say on paper because no sooner was the verdict read then Tourek and Perry moved to have the judgment set aside, a reversal of Judge Bacon's summary judgment ruling, and a new trial--all of which will delay justice due to the Ellis family) not so coincidentally APD's notorious chief announced his pending retirement. In the world of policing; this is referred to as a "distraction technique."

NOTE: Why was Schultz's Letter of Retirement dated March 13, 2013, but was not publicly announced till March 15, 2013? Why has Berry, Perry and Schultz refused to comment on it until Monday, March 18, 2013? This was all a distraction technique to shift the publics' attention away from the $10,000,000.00 verdict.

The premeditated announcement of Schultz's "retirement" dominated the newscasts. While the stations and paper covered the Ellis verdict, that story was overshadowed by Schultz's announcement. We heard about how long he's been chief. What's happened since he's been chief. What he's done since he's been chief all ad nauseum. But of course we didn't hear when the chief is retiring.

You see it's because he isn't. Or is not planning to. His letter is dated two days before it's release and it is sent not to Mayor Berry but to CAO Rob Perry. It also does not identify a date except that it may be after the election. But we all know what that means. IF Berry were to win re-election, we will no doubt hear about Schultz making the greatest personal sacrifice while stepping up to the call of duty and REMAINING as APD's chief of police.

The local paper saw fit to reflect on some cherry picked items noting the highlights and lowlights of Schultz's tenure in office. Let's flesh that out a bit shall we? In fact, let's just keep it to 2012...

•APOA survey identifies morale is at the worst it could be and that the mayor and chief have led the department to it's horrid state.

APOA president Sigala is arrested and booked and investigated for massive embezzlement and fraud yet the case mysteriously disappears while Schultz remains silent.

•Officer misconduct cases where Schultz was aware of the misconduct but failed to do anything prior to the news media breaking the story.

Chad Solis, Conner Rice, Ron Suran and the runaway taser and beating incidents.

Patrick Ficke; allegations of drunk driving in a police car and domestic abuse against a family member and other inappropriate behavior both on and off duty for over a year.

Several ranking members of APD whom were with Ficke drinking are now also under investigation.

Adam Casaus; allegations of speeding through a red light at 80+ MPH resulting in the death of a young lady and severely injuring her sister.

•IPRA violations and noncompliance resulting in ongoing lawsuits

•Lieutenant lawsuit by over four lieutenants who allege discrimination in the department promotional process

•Age discrimination lawsuit by dozens of APD officers after federal EEOC investigators found they had cause to sue.

•DCOP Banks lying under oath in sworn hearing.

•Violations of officer involved shooting SOPS (Peck, fleeing car, Parrish)

Releasing of evidence

 

Contaminating (spoilage of) evidence

Tainting witnesses

•Unlawful termination of employees and intimidation of employee favorable witnesses. All we need to say is John Doyle and Robert Woolever.

Unlawful use of public property

 

Friends of SWAT operating out of the Valley Area Command

Karen Salazar’s new private ARAPA organization operating out of the Main Police station

Personnel staffing Tiburon

TJ Wilham’s use of RTCC for private purposes

•Schultz seen socializing with disgraced nefarious PSD Darren White at MMA fights in ringside seats while technically the duty-chief and on call.

•Staffing problems

Limited recruits

Accelerated retirements

•Officer response times all time high

•High profile misconduct

Han (botched murder investigation) incident

Retired District Court Judge Murdoch

•SWAT losing federal certification

•Financial mismanagement

$160M for a department 15% smaller than it was 5 years ago

•Creation of a 4^th deputy chief position

•Nepotism

Police cadets related to sworn personnel who are not qualified to be hired because of fitness disqualifications or criminal issues.

•Termination of T. Zane Reeves who is recognized as one of the country's leading employment hearing officers

•National recognition of the worst kind in media stories across the country:

Police shootings

Mary Han’s crime scene intentional contamination and bias

•Promotion system built on cronyism

Christman, Rowe, Comacho

•Deputy Chief’s assigned to bureaus they have no experience

 

Banks as FSB DCOP

•West Mesa Murder investigation dropped
 

•Manipulation of UCR data (past and current)

•Leaderless leadership style—nobody is in command

City lawyer David Tourek never present

CAO Perry never aware

Mayor Berry never knowing

Chief Schultz not knowing

•Property crime is up

•Berry’s and Schultz’s Our city, Our property initiative is a total failure

•nITE detectives unit fiasco

 

AND LAST BUT NOT LEAST: a full blown comprehensive federal investigation of APD by the US Department of Justice which now our Eyes tell us, includes a criminal investigation as well.

 

After all of this in just one year, what else can one say but it is time to take out the trash and restore this department to the model police department it was. We hope the door does hit Schultz on his way out; oh wait, that whole thing about retiring was just a distraction technique unless Berry loses.

But if there was any doubt that our local paper is nothing short of a propaganda piece for the Berry administration, one only has to look at Sunday's editorial by Michael Coleman of the Journal's "Washington Bureau." In the editorial he describes as "explosive" and "serious" allegations in the Assistant AG Perez's Civil Rights Division that certain conservative DOJ lawyers have their feelings hurt. In a review of 10,000 documents and interviews with over 80 people, an inspector from the Inspector General's office found troubling evidence of "liberal bias" and employee intimidation (READ it  HERE).

We just want to make sure we understand the standards the Journal adheres to: If you are an assistant attorney general of the United States and some employees have their feelings hurt the paper will do a Sunday Edition with an editorial scrutinizing you. But if you are a "major city" police chief and you leave a trail of ruined lives, death, cover-ups, financial mismanagement, confirmed patterns of age and racial discrimination, perjury, lies, deception, omission, and acts of abuse of power the paper will refrain from any direct criticism or editorials condemning your activities.

Is this right?

Schultz Treats Everbody in the Same Manner; Just Ask Channel 13

Over a week ago Chief Schultz proposed a change to the Law Enforcement Academy by-laws that levies additional measures of punishment against an officer's certification. This week it seems that those additional measures are now showing their effect in ways the Eye anticipated and expressed concerns about.

Well over a year ago then Sergeant Dennis Barela was demoted from his position and returned to the rank of Patrolman 1st Class. Officer Barela was also sanctioned with a week of unpaid leave but that punishment was held in abeyance (that is delayed pending no other disciplinary issues). Now the LEA board has moved to suspend Officer Barela's certification for four months. If Officer Barela's certification, that is his license, is invalid because of this suspension he can no longer do any police duties.

Our Eyes tell us when channel 13 reporters went to ask Chief Schultz about this not only did he refuse comment but he walked off in a heated and angry manner. But he also muttered something rude under his breath as well our Eyes tell us.

Look, if an officer/sergeant/lieutenant/commander/deputy chief/chief is found to have committed misconduct they deserve to be disciplined up to and including termination. However, once disciplined; the issue is over. Here, thanks to his disrespect and misunderstanding of the US Constitution, Chief Schultz and the LEA Board have opened a Pandora's Box of problems. How is it that Officer Barela now face an additional four months of punishment when he in fact has already been punished?!?!

Our Eyes tell us there are many many more active duty APD officers that are facing similar consequences of double discipline by the LEA Board's actions. But we suppose that is ok, as when a citizen needs help they can expect only the best like Commander Rowe to arrive on scene and placate their police needs with "excellence and love" and song and dance.

Check out the story on KRQE's site (here).

The Pied Piper Gains NO Followers/Schultz Continues to Create more Vicarious Liability

Within the last week, as news broke out that APD's Chief Ray Schultz's own personal aid TJ Wilham was targeted in a lawsuit by APD Reserve Officer David Young, Deputy Chief Paul Feist misrepresented the release of "never to be released" ballistic evidence (once again blaming some unknown judge), and Chief Schultz leaked out information regarding a human rights investigation of APD by the state's Department of Workforce Solutions, things seem to be entering the Twilight Zone here in the city known as Albuquerque.

Earlier this week, in response to citizen outcry regarding a sex-offender conference scheduled for next week, APD brass led a "town hall" style meeting. Not surprisingly, APD pushed one of their newly created commanders to lead the session (could this have been some pushback to Lt. Callahan's allegations of promotion without merit?). Commander Kevin Rowe opened the meeting with his statement of "leading with...excellence and love." He then continued to speak to a virtually empty auditorium where it seemed there were more APD personnel and members of the media than actual citizens (who our Eyes tell us numbered four). But in typical APD promotional style, instead of using the opportunity to turn off the microphones, get off the stage, and have some one-on-one time, Commander Rowe decided to lecture. When one citizen's frustration finally boiled over and questions were posed to the panel (can any of our readers identify these people in the picture below?), Commander Rowe took it upon himself to speak over the citizen and not answer or even acknowledge the concerns expressed by the folks in attendance. Then, Commander Rowe whipped out his guitar and broke out a sonnet about love and peace and how we should all be in harmony.

Not surprisingly, the citizens and our Eyes reported feelings of bewilderment at the "event" quietly promoted as a community meeting. But while the commander discussed "excellence and love" our Eyes tipped us off that defendant Wilham was busy representing Albuquerque's police department at the city's Solid Waste department.

Occasionally, things happen that are beyond belief in their timing and irony. This week seems to be full of such things. If this is what Chief Schultz's vision of "In Step with Our Community" is, we fear what out of step looks like. Deputy Chief's apparently lying about evidence release procedures, civilian personal aids representing the department while they are targets in litigation that has criminal elements in it, a Chief who is so out of touch with his community's needs that he sends a rookie commander to literally do a song & dance before the citizens, more videos eroding APD's already jeopardized credibility, and who knows what else is coming down the pipeline....

PS Many of our readers have asked what has happened to the Doyle and Woolever labor hearings. Our Eyes tell us something very strange is afoot. In the aftermath of IA Sgt. Peck's shooting, city lawyer Kathy Levy had both hearings vacated and as of yet, no final hearing day for either former officer is scheduled. So while Mr. Doyle and Mr. Woolever's due process rights are impaired, APD's Chief Schultz goes before the state's LEA board to talk about ways to further violate employee's rights.

PPS Mayor Berry has for quite a while avoided much of well deserved attention for his failures in leading the city of Albuquerque in every way imaginable. A detailed and shocking special report by our Eyes is coming very soon...