"Thug Life" Wanna Be

Lately it seems Albuquerque City Council meetings are more dangerous for citizens than 4th/Central at 2am on Friday night. And it's not that city personnel are in danger from upset citizens, it's that citizens are in danger from high ranking city officials.

You see this past Monday, a citizen who regularly attends and participates in our system of open government was accosted and victimized by two of RJ Berry's top lawyers. While another citizen was speaking during the public comment portion of the meeting, Mr. Charles Arasim was documenting various high ranking city officials including CAO Robert Perry, City Attorney David Tourek, and interim self described minority chief Allen Banks.

While Mr. Arasim was videoing these people, Mr. Perry appeared to be dozing off. And as the sequence of stills below show, realizing that he might be caught on camera Mr. Perry decided he'd act upon what his inner thoughts were saying to himself.

"You lookin at me?" "Well I'm lookin at you pal!"

Mr. Perry got up out of his seat in the back row of the chambers where he was sitting by himself and then ambled on over to where Mr. Arasim was. Mr. Perry then glared at Mr. Arasim, interfered with his camera and then decided he'd stand in front of Arasim's camera to keep him from documenting Banks and Tourek.

"You wanna take a picture of me? Well here I am beotch!"

As Perry heard his name dropped by the speaker he just couldn't help but grin in satisfaction to his little effort of standing up to a citizen. Then as if things weren't weird enough, they got bizarre. And dangerous. You see, little did Mr. Arasim know that he just walked into The Twilight Zone.

As Mr. Arasim and some friends left the city council chambers and walked to their cars, who did they encounter in the underground parking garage? None other than Rob Perry and his sidekick Greg Wheeler. Our Eyes tell us that Wheeler called out to Mr. Arasim and called him a "chickenshit motherfucker" causing numerous other citizens to stop and look in dismay including Mr. Arasim. Wheeler then closed in on Mr. Arasim while yelling at him and raised his arm as if to punch him. Perry stepped in and pulled Wheeler back.

"Aint nobody gonna dis my homie!"

Folks, we're not talking about a group of private citizens in a dispute. We're not talking about drunk college kids stumbling out of Maloney's. We are talking about a top city lawyer and the top administrative officer of the largest city in New Mexico. A city whose very own police department is under intense scrutiny by the US Department of Justice

We have to ask the obvious questions, if this is how Perry and Wheeler respond in public to minor scrutiny, how do they behave behind closed doors? How do they behave under intense scrutiny? Is this the behavior we expect city leaders to model? And did Wheeler violate any criminal laws? We think he did. It seems to us he committed assault and disorderly conduct. Imagine how the city would respond to this if an APD officer did this while on duty? Because let's face it, Wheeler and Perry were not at the meeting as citizens, they were there on duty and as representatives of Berry's administration. Perhaps their boss, David Tourek bares some responsibility with this mess as well.....

Here's the story as broadcast on KRQE-13 last night:
http://www.krqe.com/news/local/top-abq-officials-accused-of-petty-antics

And here's raw video from the incident:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oT-HPkRnS0E&feature=c4-overview&list=UUloSjzKimMDOizYNTzRSS6A

$300,000 and the Trend is Downward!

Well, usually the first week of a New Year is a time of fresh air and new ideas. But as we've seen over the last few days, not only is it more of the same, but it's like a never ending visit of the Ghost of Christmas Past. It's dark, gloomy, and smells.

You see, illegally fired APD officer Russell Perea was ordered by a district court judge for reinstatement into APD and repayment of backpay. That finally happened and Officer Perea was paid over $150,000 by the city and is in the process of being reinstated into APD. Our Eyes tell us that the city has argued that Perea is not qualified to be a police officer any more because he hasn't kept up with training. But of course it was the city's fault that Perea was unable to keep up with training. 

That's a fun game the current leadership likes to play: we're gonna violate your rights but don't blame us if you don't like it.

(Funny how the city likes to micro-analyze and promote such requirements and regulations when its to their benefit; but what do they do when such little details are against them and show guilt? That's a little Eye hint about something coming down the line...)

So while Perea gets a nice check, almost the same day there's bizarre story about the city cutting yet another six-figure check because of what's described as a "secret arrest" stemming from a SWAT activation. Of course the money paid isn't so much because of the actions of the officers but the seeming deception and tampering of records by the city.

What, the city "loses" records?!?!?!?

Since the all-monied Alcade, RJ Berry, boasts about his CAO's effectiveness, we at the Eye think Perry's 2014 salary should be offset by what we all just paid Perea. That would leave Perry with about $33,000 in income for the year and seems about right for his "service" to the city. Oh wait, since Perry has his fingers involved in legal matters facing the city, he should also be on the hook for the $150,000 paid out in the secret arrest case.

Mr. Perry, please cut us a check for $117,000 by the end of the month please as you have no credit.

Folks, at the risk of pointing out the obvious, we're going to draw your attention to a painful truth. Every since Jim Baca was mayor, things have steadily gotten worse. And while many will hate this comment, it seems Mr. Baca's administration was the high point of the city's administration in the last 15 years. (Yes yes, we can hear the "Anybody but Baca" comments already). You see, Mr. Baca had a highly skilled and very professional CAO when he had Lawrence Rael as his top administrator. Mr. Baca also made it not about him, but about the institution. Then we entered the political era with Marty Chavez as mayor. While Dr. Perlman was effective as CAO, Mr. Adams was fairly limited and let's be real, both really worked angles for themselves (Adams took home over $103,000 in 2013). Perlman did his, hush hush out of country work, and Adams feathered his nest. And it was all about keeping Marty looking like a dignitary.

Then came Berry and we are now immersed in the era of cronyism. What else do you call it when $150,000 checks are routinely cut because of BAD decision made by personnel who give themselves raises or are promoted....? Jobs for friends here, contracts for friends there, is the way of Berry. And as Berry hands pieces of his pie out to all of his political hacks, we, the citizens, are left holding the bag.

In the Rearview Mirror: 2013

Much thanks to the many emails and posts people sent in.

2013 offered an abundance of things for us shake our head at, empty our stomachs on, stare in disbelief, and frankly make us want to conceal that Albuquerque is our home. But it is our home, and despite the following list, it is up to us to make this place better. But as you look at the following, it will take effort and unity....we added a little "Eye" humor to make what frankly is truly quite disgraceful a little easier to handle. Kinda like what those Deming cops like to do, hold on here it comes:

-Lieutenant Tim Lopez goes 10-40 and gets in fight with his own officers when they refuse to clean his own gun. Lopez didn't seem to find it funny that the nerf gun provided to him in the rubber room didn't need cleaning.

-Senior IRO investigator Trey Flynt and his pirated sports shirts and “booty” website gets fired and redefines what it means to be a loser. He know enjoys Burr-eat-ohs with his buddy TJ.

-City lawyer Kathryn Levy is caught taking pictures of speakers at the POC and Schultz's smirking gets caught on camera. Little did they know they'd be modeling for the monsters in the next Mercer Mayer book.

-Ray Schultz slips up and reveal APD's unwritten but rampant “nature at play” SOP and leads by example for once. Except let's call it what it is: GROSS!

-Perry fires Schultz hours after a huge verdict against Schultz and APD. Nevermind the cops you've fired, been sued by, department you've ruined, economy you've depressed, joke you've become, the truth is Schultz is trying "nature at play" with Rob and Rob aint playin!

-Berry’s policies encourage crime rate to turn around and start climbing in virtually every category except theft of frozen burr-eat-ohs.

-Ellis family: $10,300,000, APD under Ray Schultz: $0 and all Berry got was a red thong.

-12 SE units are off/sick out of 19 units listed to work on a quiet day in December leaving 6 for all of day of shift. But no worries because Berry and  Banks say there's no calls for service anyway.

-An entire class of officers file suit against the city for age discrimination. But that's ok because like every other outside entity that says Banks/Schultz are unlawful in conduct, EEOC is wrong too.

-APD Brass handling of Mary Han’s suspicious death gets even more repugnant: faced with allegations of taking pictures and stolen property, APD “loses” city issued cell phones to key personnel including: Allen Banks, Paul Feist, Rob Perry, TJ Wilham, Marc Adams, Beth Paiz, and  Darren White. In response to harsh judicial criticism, APD's response is, "oh we didn't know you meant those phones."

-APD SWAT loses federal certification. But that's ok because Berry says crime is down.

-Judge Murdoch rape case is dismissed for gross errors by APD detective Sandy. No Keith, you can't do snitches that way.

-Exploding city budget; APD’s budget unjustifiable given the workforce reduction of almost 30%. But that's ok because crime is down.

-DOJ. Like the little girl from Poltergeist, "They're here..."

-RTCC drone gets dumped in a spontaneous case of the Harlem Shuffle but West Mesa style.

-Lessons lost in the Christopher Chase incident: Kill Zone is the area you don't drive into.

-Levi Chavez, and the suicides continue. But that's ok, because APD is so desperate for cops he'll be back in blue in no time.

-Chickens coming home to roost: Russell Perea, Zane Reeves, APOA 2008 contract….

-So bad it's worth a second mention: Red Thong! No RJ, we didn't say "Red Dawn"

-Vincent Yermal and Rob Perry: acts of labor intimidation and examples of how the beatings will continue until morale improves.

-AFD rank and file take to the streets and protest Berry/Perry’s failures. However when confronted by a old WMA that's 39, 18, and very 10-40....they run and call APD!

-Paul Heh steps up and makes noble mayoral effort; calls “bullshit” on Berry’s lies.

-APOA/City Tentative Agreement: Officers to get 1 penny raise for each month the parties have been in “negotiations.”

-Personnel floodgate remains open, pool dwindling, fewer officers on APD's streets than in the late 1980s. But that's ok because crime is down.

- From the producers of "Nailin Palin" comes "APD Academy: The Adventures of Joe Wolf"

-CAO Perry gives self $33,000 raise but then blows it on scotch and 23rs.

-Interim, Temporary, Professional Lifetime Victim Chief Allen Banks caught lying again. But that's ok because crime is down.

-Off duty sergeant Adam Casaus runs a red light and broadsides a private citizen resulting in traumatic injuries to the driver and the tragic death of the passenger. Once again we are left with, what did Schultz know and when did he know it.

-Former Violent Crimes detective, and forever insider, Sgt. Darcy McDermitt violates Firearm Safety Rule #2: Keep you finger off the trigger. The result? She shoots one of her own officers in the leg.

and last but not least...

-NM state Attorney General Gary King unloads on APD and city brass by confirming they contaminated and interfered with the Mary Han crime scene, perpetrated outrageous conduct, falsified information, and were generally inexplicable in their actions. But that's ok because city attorney David Tourek says the AG report is frivolous while sitting in for Will Farrell on the set of "Elf 2: I'm a Jingle for Your Bell."

Thanks for playing this year folks. It's been painful and frustrating so we're gonna kick back a few days and drink some Ripple, play with table top saws, and see how many firecrackers we have to set off before the SWAT team shows up. Oh, wait, we forgot, there isn't one anymore because there's no more cops. Nevermind, we'll have some more Ripple.  Have a safe New Years, and hold on 2014 is gonna be wild.

P.S. 2013 Poster of the Year Award goes to...........none other than the Tremendous Regulator. Meet us up at the Barelas Coffee House TR, we'll buy you a real cup of joe!

---The Eye

P.S. Thanks to the poster below for catching two major oversights.

2013 Nominations...

2014 is just around the corner. And while we'd like to wrap the local paper in its own cow chip award, we think that'd be uncool even for manure. But with a day left, give us you nominations for the year's most unreported but most newsworthy items. Or even the most repugnant which is usually the case here Albuquerque....

APD Contract: Backpedaling Berry/Perry Style

On December 15, just 11 days ago, Albuquerque police union president Stephanie Lopez sent an email to members presenting the proposed Tentative Agreement. In her email she stated:


"Voting will be held on December 30, 2013. We will have 1 box located at the APOA office from 8am-4pm and 1 box located at the Moose Lodge from 12pm-7pm."

In the days since this posting of the Tentative Agreement at substations and here, officers from across all spectrums in APD have voiced opposition to it. From supervisors, specialized units, senior officers, to rookies, all have pointed out the obvious: it restores little from what has taken away and makes things worse.

In numerous postings APD personnel have pointed out the seemingly endless deficiencies of the agreement and the obvious rush by the APOA to get the agreement approved.

Yet today, our Eyes tell us Ms. Lopez has confirmed what everybody has been saying. In an email to members she writes:

"[T]he city is still in the process of writing the final draft of the APOA contract to be viewed by the APOA membership. There were a lot of mistakes that still needed to be corrected and addressed within the tentative contract. There is not a final copy of this contract completed yet, however as soon as it is finalized it will be posted for 10 days before a vote will be held."

Ms. Lopez backs away from the 12/30 vote as states that there will now be an informational meeting regarding the tentative contract at 8:30am and 5:30pm at the APOA office on 2nd Street NW. Ms. Lopez then adds in closing to her email:

"The city has been very deceptive in the wording of the language in the contract so I am grateful for those of you who to take the time to read this contract and bring issues to my attention."

Excuse us? On December 15, the summary sheet attached to the tentative agreement that was disseminated and posted at each substation had a recommendation by the APOA Negotiating Team. Their recommendation was: ratification of the tentative agreement. And this is the team supposedly led by the city's former negotiator Paul Broome...

Folks, these are things that make one go hmmmmmm.

Not even two weeks ago APOA "leadership" was promoting the passage of this contract. After years of "negotiating" they presented this agreement as the best that could be done. Now, after the massive dissent expressed here and amongst the rank and file, Ms. Lopez has offered a glimpse of truth: that the city is engaging in deceptive negotiation tactics. That they are saying one thing but writing something else in the contract.

We and our Eyes have been saying this all along: Given that the city unilaterally broke the previous contract, what makes you think they'll honor even this absurd one?

In the Christmas day paper, the local edition of the Albuquerque Journal ran an article about staffing shortages in New Mexico law enforcement. The author sidesteps the fact that while APD is in a staffing crisis because of deceptive practices and the DOJ investigation such practices have invited, APD's sister agency BCSO is not in such a crisis. He also somehow misses the fact that the state's DPS and NMSP academies are full and maxed to capacity. Here in Bernalillo county, how is it that two agencies who share the same geographic footprint have such stark differences of problems? It is because of deception and incompetence by APD and APOA leadership. It's that simple.

Merry Christmas 2013

A single snow flake; simple, pure, unique and honest...Just like the Eye On Albuquerque...

May God Bless!

Merry Christmas to all as we celebrate the birth of our dear Savior; Jesus Christ!

The Eye On Albuquerque

Berry & Perry: APD's Most Wanted Property Offenders

The above picture was forwarded to one of our Eyes who is an APD officer. They said this advertisement was on the bottom of the page of APD's weekly full page all color (and very expensive) ad in the Albuquerque Journal this past week. Like everybody else, we thought the irony was too rich and your loveable Eye just had to weigh in.

Why on earth would the 5th & 11th Floor braintrusts be promoting their need for officers amongst an ad promoting wanted property offenders? Is there some sort of connection between people wanted for stealing property and the people at city hall?

Despite how ridiculous we think the targeting of the ad is, we found some very odd things about the ad itself. Look closely and follow along...

Our 5th Floor friends don't promise officers will receive anything, all they say folks will receive is the "opportunity" to make $87,000.

The "opportunity" to retire at 90% of your top FIVE years of pay.

The "ability" to retire after 25 years of service, and the "ability" to work in 30 specialized units.

That's a lot of maybes. Kinda like maybe officers will make $28/hr. Kinda like maybe one could make $87,000 in gross pay, if they work a regular 40 hour work week AND 18 hours of overtime each week.

Maybe you can retire at 90% IF you don't get fired for simply voicing your dissent or IF Berry doesn't get his way with PERA. Or if you don't get injured and the department simply abandons you like we've heard has happened to so many officers who have been injured in the line of duty.

Maybe you can work in all 30 units IF you don't spend more than ten months in a given unit IF you don't mind not having any real ability to do anything well at any given time. As many officers have told us, they often go, "Hmm should I be in K9 this month and get no sleep or work in the RTCC and play video games all day? RTCC it is!!!"

The funny thing about this ad is there is one truth to it. They say, "Up to 150 hours of compensation." Well we don't really know what that means because in any given year there are 2,080 hours of full time hours of compensation. But if Berry/Perry are accidentally telling you you're gonna get ripped off, then they are accurate. Incidentally, 150 hours of extra compensation is almost the amount each officer would be due if Berry/Perry had honored the original contract and were paying the difference of what they CHOSE to pay officers now.

Folks, this is but another example of this city's administration lies and the extent they will go to distort facts and manipulate data. If they cannot be truthful with a simple ad in the paper, what makes you think they will be truthful with a contract proposal?

Especially when by their own actions they don't honor existing ones....