APD Conducts Counter Intelligence Against Citizens

The public expression of dissent is one of the greatest attributes we hold as Americans. To speak openly and FREELY about issues that concern us is a privilege that people the world over do not get to enjoy. In fact, in many countries, speaking openly about the government can get you killed. Or suicided.

But here in the United States of America, publicly expressing and stating we are fed up with something is a right we hold dear to our hearts. It's what makes us Americans.

Thus when the picture here was forwarded to us from a recent public demonstration against Bernalillo County District Attorney Kari Brandenburg we felt an immediate need to address this issue.

 

SIDEBAR

 

When our Eyes first saw the picture it was thought to be a heavy duty wheelchair with a center stabilizer for Wilham (Just a little Eye humor)...We have come to learn it is one of the APD's spy stations operated by hired, fired and re-hired Tj Wilham. 

 

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On a serious note, pictured herein is one of APD's new mobile video surveillance drone's. You see this device was parked in close proximity to the protestors and recorded both audio and video footage of their, and every other passerby's, every doing. Everything they said, everything they looked at, every movement they made was recorded and watched by our friends in APD's "Smart" Police Unit. And to be clear, the video was operated on a live basis while officers zoomed in on citizens and recorded the entire event in high-definition digital video.

 

 

We at the Eye have a major problem with this and it's hard for us even to know where to begin.

Is APD targeting this particular group in particular? If so why?
Is APD going to target all public protests? If so why?
If APD is not going to target every protest, than who are they targeting and why?
Are they going to target officers at their homes if they happen to be home sick or on sick leave?
Are they going to target political rivals of Mayor Berry?
Are they going to provide video surveillance of where ever Chief Schultz is staying for "protection?"

How much of this have they already done?

How many covert mobile units do they have?

What are they doing with the recordings?

What review process exists to prevent abuse?

Who has access to the videos?

The questions go on and on, and for a department notoriously known for its secrecy and refusal to comply with public record requests, AND it's arbitrary and prejudicial investigations it's hard to even fathom anybody could think this is appropriate.

Then there are the people who are watching the watched. Directing the "Smart" Police Unit is none other than former Albuquerque Journal reporter TJ Wilham. Our Eyes tell us, Wilham spends countless hours eating and watching videos of questionable investigatory relevance. Of course, not to be outdone by Wilham is the unit's sergeant, Felipe "flip" Garcia. If you recall, Sgt. Garcia was vice-president of the APOA under former officer Joey Sigala and was named as a person of interest in a massive financial embezzlement investigation of APOA funds. Also in the unit is detective Nick Sanders....our friends in the DEA will remember him for the official misconduct that almost got him fired.

 

So in a nutshell we have an unjustified and arbitrary use of police surveillance AND recording of citizens asserting their constitutional rights being operated by a unit whose very management would not withstand ANY public scrutiny. Seriously, could you imagine the number of burr-eat-oh wrappers left lying around by Wilham? Is the "Smart" unit itself under video surveillance?

We know from experience that when people work in APD's main police station they develop symptoms of indifference, we wouldn't want to speculate but for some reason we don't have any confidence that IF they happened to see misconduct by fellow LE personnel they'd actually do anything about it.

To the folks at APD, you do understand that the DOJ is watching YOU under a microscope right? You do understand that the department is being scrutinized for a pattern and practice of civil rights violations right?

 

Look, we understand that there may indeed be a reasonable basis to have an officer assigned or dispatched to a location when there is a public protest going on. If for any reason it's to protect the protestors from the public. However, this type of authoritarian prejudicial "Big Brother" style surveillance is unacceptable.

In Eye terms it is simply UN-AMERICAN!! The Eye encourages all citizens to exercise their rights and become the true watchers of the watchers....video and take pictures of any and all of these installations. The suppression and chilling of free speech is the first step to totalitarianism...