APD Officer's Behavior called into Question

The local media has been taunting a story concerning the twitter postings by APD Officer Pete Dwyer. Is Dwyer a problem officer? Has the Police Department been ignoring the problems with this officer? Why would the Police Department commit nonfeasance of duty if they did know? Let’s review some of the issues and concerns that have been brought to our attention.

Pete Dwyer is a former Albuquerque Police Officer’s Association (APOA) President. Our Eyes behind the badge tell us that Dwyer was forced to resign under pressure during his tour as the APOA President due to unaccounted debt that Dwyer charged up without the permission or authority of the APOA. Our Eyes tell us that the APOA Board decided not to prosecute Dwyer on the condition that he resigned. Our Eyes also tell us that the Police Department had knowledge about these alleged improprieties’ and did nothing. The Police Department allowed Dwyer to be assigned to a cushy job that Dwyer wanted after he resigned from the APOA. Dwyer dodged the bullet on this one.

Most recently, the Police Department was looking at Dwyer for his MySpace Page. According to the Journal (read it here), “Police Chief Ray Schultz said Detective Pete Dwyer wouldn’t be disciplined for an ‘inappropriate’ comment on his MySpace page…” Dwyer barely dodged another bullet.

And now Dwyer has set himself back in the line of fire. Dwyer’s twitters; although they are distasteful, are protected under free speech and do not violate APD’s policy.

According to the Journal, “Dwyer’s name has also come up in the midst of another controversy, one that he mentioned on his Twitter account.”

The Journal stated, “APD Criminal and Internal Affairs investigators are looking into how a vehicle identification number plate from a truck once owned by Dwyer ended up on a truck owned by former APD cop and wife-killing suspect Levi Chavez.” Our Eyes tell us that Dwyer was assigned to the Department’s Auto Theft Unit at one time and dealt with vehicle identification number plate as a detective in the Unit.

Schultz did a knee jerk reaction to the media’s pressure and panicked. Placing this officer on desk duty over a possible department SOP violation which only carries a penalty of a verbal reprimand or at best a written reprimand is simply ridicules.

It appears that Schultz has already played the part of the hangman and has already decided the guilt of Dwyer without an investigation or any legitimate proof. In the Journal story, Schultz stated, Dwyer “has been told to show up at 8:30 in the morning (today) at Internal Affairs with his badge, his gun and his car,” Schultz said late Thursday. “Obviously we have some serious problems here.” When Schultz spoke about “serious problems here,” the Eye wonders if he was referring to his leadership.

The Journal quoted Schultz as saying, “We respect and value the right to free speech, but comments that impair our officers’ ability to perform their duties and brings discredit to the Albuquerque Police Department will not be tolerated.” In this statement by Schultz, he ties “performance of duties” and “discredit to the department” together. Even if there was a violation, it is doubtful that Schultz will be able to prove the “and” part that he has asserted.

Dwyer never said or represented that he was a copper or even a City employee. If Dwyer is going to get hammered for this, Berry better have another hammer ready to do Schultz for his rant on twitter against the District Court Judges. Oh, that’s right; Darren White was shooting off his mouth against the District Judges too. Berry, you will need to run by Sears and buy out their stock on hammers.

With all the violent crimes in this City; With 18 police involved shootings; and all this administration is worried about is violating protected free speech. Do the job you were hired to do and get back to work.