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| "um, I'm here, um now, but, um (smack), I'm not going to be, um, staying." |
Back on August 2, 2013 then deputy chief Allen Banks was promoted to Chief of the Albuquerque Police Department by RJ Berry. Like many, we knew this was an election time ploy to create an image that a hardcore fringe Republican like Berry could enjoy having minorities work for him. At the time Banks boasted, "I've been in every unit in this department which gives me great institutional knowledge of this department, that's why I'm so excited to be the leader." While we and many of our Eyes knew the real Allen Banks was not suitable for any position above the rank of P1/C, we were still surprised to see Allen's ineptness on full display at every press conference.
In September, an audio leaked out revealing Banks admitting he'd been at high profile crime scenes but lying about things he is confirmed to have done. Including endless violations of department SOPs.
Here's the audio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5q9Mn_pgS0Y
Then on the Sunday after Christmas, December 29th, in a huge front page spread, the Albuquerque Journal embraced the all but confirmed notion that Banks would be the permanent chief of the beleaguered APD. In response to questions about DOJ's investigation into APD, Banks stated, "If they come back and say that we’re doing everything great, then that’s great, too. We’ll continue to go forward and try and make this the best department in the nation."
Now on January 29th, Banks recorded a video statement explaining that he in fact is leaving his "much loved" family for the security of a job as the chief of police in Round Rock, Texas (see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=oKqEV6xJD78). As he stated in his video, he cannot "gamble" on whether or not he'll be selected for his position on a permanent basis. so Mr. Banks is leaving for a quiet police department of 150 officers just north of Austin.
Just like Schultz "announced" his retirement after the Ellis verdict, here we have Banks "announcing" his retirement after the Ellis payout. Coincidence or another shove by Berry's little terrier Rob Perry?
Since it's clear he is not capable of the job and was really just a place holder for Berry's re-election, we at the Eye are not surprised. We do find it disturbing that for somebody who has gone on and on about how Albuquerque is their home and how they love APD, they'd just abandon it before being told a successor was inbound. But then again, Banks has always been about Banks first and the truth and integrity second. Remember it was only this fall that armed felon Christopher Chase went on a shooting rampage against the APD, and of course, there was little if any debrief concerning that incident and certainly no leadership by Banks that day. All that's remembered was, "we're hurting."
Well we're sure the citizens of Round Rock would like to hear about Mr. Banks, so in the best spirit of the idea that an intelligent citizenry is an informed citizenry, please let them know. After all if the city had truly vetted out Mr. Banks, would they really have hired a confirmed liar, habitual SOP violator, and tamperer of crime scenes???
http://kxan.com/2014/01/30/round-rock-police-chief-comes-from-department-under-scrutiny/
http://www.keyetv.com/news/features/top-stories/stories/new-round-rock-police-chief-named-15796.shtml
The question now on the table is who is coming in as either the 2nd interim chief of APD or has a selection already been made. Our Eyes tell us a selection has indeed been made and it is none other than former BCSO'r and current secretary of NM Department of Corrections, Gregg Marcantel. We at the Eye will with hold any commentary on Mr. Marcantel except that given he seems to be quite friendly with disgraced former sheriff and former PSD Darren White, we view him with caution.
