Resigned Cynicism; Is there Hope?

The Eye received this letter from Marty Gilmore, a retired APD Captain, and from all the emails we receive, it seems Gilmore is right on target when it comes to many of the retired senior coppers.

I retired after twenty-five of service as an Albuquerque Police Department Captain/Commander. During my tenure I served as Commander of the Southeast and Foothills Area Commands, the Traffic Division, the Crime Lab, Records/ID and Evidence. I was also given responsibility to command the first accreditations process and form the Inspections Unit.

I was happy to see Ray Schultz be given the opportunity to be Chief under Mayor Chavez as he had worked for me in the Crime lab and did a great job. As time passed word kept getting back to me that Ray was not the same person he was before he took the position of Deputy Chief in Scottsdale, Arizona. He was becoming disconnected from the officers and discipline was becoming a major issue. Officers were becoming reluctant to do their job for fear of discipline should they make an honest mistake.

I was very surprised to see the current mayor retain Chief Schultz after being told Chief Schultz and his command staffs were pushing hard for the re-election of Mayor Chavez. The function of loyalty is to the community first and then to the chain of command. To avoid corruption there can be no other approach.

Never did I believe the possibility of a Justice Department investigation possible due to the lack of leadership. Chief Schultz said he is the man to clean up APD's problems. The thought that comes to mind is who was in charge when the mess was created? Also, why is the Journal so quick to defend the Chief and say he is the right man to correct the problems existing at APD when the Journal has been very critical of the APD for the past number of years?

The APD at one time had a reputation of being one of the best local law enforcement agencies in the nation. I believe it can regain that standing through a good work ethic, getting back to the basics of police work, good discipline and new leadership.

David M. Gilmore Retired APD Captain

The laments never stop coming; yet, Albuquerque’s Mayor Berry pretends he is deaf and dumb. The Eye is at the point of resigned cynicism and realizes Berry is never going to correct the wrong doings but force the rest of us to live and deal with his bad decisions. Mayor Berry has become pathetic. Is there any hope?...