Something is 'Cook'ing or Should We Say; Someone?

 

It's amazing how the mouthpieces of the Berry Administration continue to promote this bizarre idea that everything is "all good" and that Albuquerque is moving forward. Even when broken, a clock is right twice a day fellas. You might ponder the real meaning of this. Considering the events of this week, we'd say the clock is so broke you can't even tell what time it is!!!

 

Former Counselor Cook is Cooked

What can you say regarding former city counselor Michael Cook? Arrested for DWI late Wednesday night, the Eye would like to recognize him for taking responsibility for his actions as he promptly resigned from his position as a city counselor. Mr. Berry, Mr. Perry, and soon to be Mr. Schultz, you might take note of Mr. Cook's actions. Notice how by resigning he puts all the issues that would otherwise affect the city to rest? Notice how his ownership of his error immediately makes it a non-issue? We are by no means endorsing Mr. Cook's alleged DWI offense. But we do respect a person who is willing to take ownership of such issues when it clearly affects his ability to work in public's interest. This is something Berry, Perry, and Schultz have no concept of given the hole they have buried the city in with all of their misconduct. Make no mistake about it, the mess they have let happen will cost us tens of millions in extra taxes. Just look at what is happening in New Orleans as they try to satisfy elements of their DOJ consent decree tab. We only had Hurricane BPS, at least New Orleans had a true natural disaster happen there!

Sontag Rising

 

Our Eyes tell us retired APD Lieutenant Sontag is on his way to be the interim chief. Given his standing with the state's fringe Republican neo-conservative Tea Party, we suspect he will simply be the front-man for CAO Rob Perry. It'll be Perry's way or the highway. Whatever representations Sontag makes with respect to his "clean up" of APD's evidence room issues, trust us the bodies are still buried there in evidence. Our Eyes tell us Sontag could be taking the chief's chair as early as June 1. We'll see.

 

Cartels Among Us

For those of us who are concerned with the macabre crimes of bodies being buried and burned in the cars lately, here's a jump at the obvious, the Mexican drug cartel La Linea is very much in operation here in Albuquerque. This is not anything new as homicide has been actively investigating, and playing down, what are clearly Mexican cartel order murders. Sorry, whenever Mexican nationals and their family members are slaughtered, the crime speaks for itself: It's a message. The message is for others to fall in line "or else." Women burned in cars, children with their throats cut open, people mutilated, kidnappings. We hate to be the bearer of bad news but the cartels are here. Our only concern is what happens if the Sinaloa Cartel decides to take on La Linea over the territory known as Albuquerque? So many experienced officers have left the department and the officers are so cowed into a bunker mentality we can expect a summer like last year but worse.

 

Officers & Deputy Chiefs

 

The Field Services Bid happened once again, and given the numbers of officers who bid, our Eyes tell us expect more end of shift hold-overs, fewer officers on duties, more forced overtime, fewer vacation days, more responsibility, more explaining to citizens why their call held for so long, more explaining why DOJ is here and how they are not going away anytime soon. But we do know who is going away. About a year ago two-time civil rights violator Steve Warfield was promoted to Deputy Chief of APD. With his stars barely even on, our Eyes tell us he announced his retirement. Why bother promoting to the position if you're going to leave? At lease retired Deputy Chief Beth Paiz had the common sense to decline to take Ray Schultz's job.

 

Lastly, our Eyes are telling us the local Republicans are in fuss over something. There are a lot of sweaty palms and lots of bunkers being built...it seems something big is coming. But then again, that's the Republican way, to just always be afraid that something big is coming. In this case, perhaps it's knowing that Pete Dinelli and Paul Heh have gotten so many signatures that they are already in the cushion zone and still have through the end of the month. Whatever you do Darren White, please do not endorse Mr. Heh or Mr. Dinelli, that will surely torpedo anything effort to kick Berry to the curb!

Oh yeah, shame on those of you who thought this story was going to be about Schultz... Just-a-little-bit of Eye humor.

BREAKING DOUBLE BAD

Today is not what you would call a good day for APD and it's failed leadership of Ray Schultz, Allen Banks, Steve Warfield, or acting deputy chief Will "photobug" Roseman. Nor was it a good day for APD lawyer Kathy Levy. Our Eyes tell us despite Levy's efforts to hide the ball and move the line, Judge Bacon ruled in favor of the the Plaintiff's in the civil rights lawsuit of Kenneth Ellis v. APD/Ray Schultz. If you remember this shooting occurred in January of 2010 and stands as a hallmark of a series of questionable shootings by APD. In this case, similar to other cases, Mr. Ellis was shot while he was holding a gun to his own head. With the exception of the officer who originally stated "Fuck, was that me" all the other officers on the scene asserted there was no need to shoot Mr. Ellis. The shooting officer then later changed his statement to argue that shooting Mr. Ellis was necessary because he posed a threat to other officers. The Plaintiff's argued that there was no significant disagreement on the facts of the incident and thus asked for a summary judgment. Since the jury ultimately determines what the facts are IF there is disagreement of the facts it was not necessary for this case to go to a jury. Ms Levy tried in vain we are told to twist and distort the facts so it appeared there was disagreement and aside from infuriating Judge Bacon did not further her cause. In the end the judge ruled in favor of the Plaintiffs and held that APD and the officer were unreasonable in their use of deadly force and in doing so violated Mr. Ellis's civil rights. For a plaintiff to succeed on a motion for summary judgement involving an incident of such magnitude is no small feat and only reveals how unlawful the actions of the officer sadly were.

Now the question is how many millions will the city have to pay to cover the punitive damages associated in this case...

Just as it seems things could not get worse, things do. You see despite BCSO's initial reports that APD Sgt. Adam Casaus was chasing a drunk driver when he collided into another car killing one of its occupants and severely injuring the other, we are no told that not only was Sgt. Casaus NOT on duty at the time of the accident, but he in fact ran the red light colliding into the other car. Sgt Casaus failed to clear the intersection. Of course in neither case has the failed leadership of APD owned any responsibility for these tragedies. Nor have they personally reached out to the families of either party to express their sincere sadness and desire to find the truth of what occurred. Instead they hide behind a lawyer barely fit to argue a traffic tickets.

Again we ask, how many millions will the city have to pay to cover the punitive damages associated in this case...

Lastly, we hear that IA is now doing the investigation into former Sgt. Pat Ficke's drinking buddies. We here at the Eye have been wondering about this since this story broke out. Given that Commander Christman, Lieutenant Troy Luna, Sgt Alex Catsis, and Sgt Dan Cambell are of such rank who is exactly going to do their investigation. We think ANYBODY in APD is clearly unfit for such a job and it should be referred out to another agency because of the grotesque conflicts of interests such an investigation poses. But given the department's efforts to hide, conceal, and lie we suspect such an investigation will be handled in-house and probably by the likes of whomever wants to be APD's next Deputy Chief. Who knows, given their success at FAILING at so many things, perhaps Deputy Chief Banks would do a tremendous job with their investigation...

Why Oh Why doesn't common sense prevail? These debacles are going to cost millions.  Don't forget the 44 million spent last year on liability by Berry and Company.  This is just another one of Berry's "Train Wrecks."

Mayoral Candidate Paul Heh has said it many times; "Tell the truth and make right whatever it is the City has done wrong?"  If the City is wrong, make good on the problem and if the City is right in its' actions then fight it.  This is just one more reason to get rid of Berry and VOTE PAUL HEH into office.

Proof Schultz Is Attempting To Suppressing The Truth To Avoid Responsibility

As we mentioned earlier, during last week’s Chief’s Staff meeting, we were told that Schultz launched a campaign of intimidation against his officers. Apparently he thinks it is his officer’s fault for the mess that has now brought the DOJ in. And in being true to his form, Schultz will do everything he can to suppress the truth and avoid responsibility.

As we were told, and confirm with the displayed memo, now that the DOJ is here, Schultz states he will be attending officer briefings. Now that DOJ is here, Schultz states he wants to hear what concerns officers have regarding APD. Now that DOJ is here, Schultz wants his Deputy Chiefs, Allen Banks, Steve Warfield, and whomever is named to the space abandoned by Paul Feist, to meet with officers. Now that DOJ is here Schultz wants people to make sure they are all following their SOPs. And now that DOJ is here, Schultz wants his officers aware that the department has pattern and practice problems involving civil rights and use of force. Now that DOJ is here, everything is “we…we…we.”

We think this memo speaks for itself. Anybody who knows Schultz knows that this is nothing but an effort to keep officers quiet and to alert his supervisors as to what DOJ will be looking at—and thus make all efforts to conceal anything “of concern.”

The reason why DOJ is here is NOT because of officers, it is because as APD’s Chief of Police, Schultz has led the department to failure. From incidents where his staff has run amok at crime scenes, arbitrarily fired officers, covered up endless incidents of civil rights violations against citizens, squandered federal grants, lied under oath, and let the issues in the evidence room get worse, Schultz has been the one ultimately responsible for the tarnished reputation APD now has. And Mayor Berry has endorsed Schultz’s actions by either openly defending him or hiding behind his inept city lawyers Robert Kidd and Robert Perry.

As anybody who has been in APD knows, the only thing surprising here is Schutz’s admission that he doesn’t regularly talk to his officers. He hides in his office behind a lobby door he installed to separate him from the rest of the city. He acknowledges the department is in pieces. He acknowledges, subtly, that APD’s house is not in order….

Kudos goes to one of our Eyes for forwarding us the memo shown. As we can see APD’s Schultz has engaged in a full court press….but all it takes are a few brave souls to stand firm and honor the oath they took for their badge.