APD

A pattern of hiding misdeeds (APD)

No video in several of officer’s arrests | Albuquerque Journal News

By Nicole Perez / Journal Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 12:05 am

Albuquerque police officer Jeremy Dear’s lapel video wasn’t recording when he allegedly punched a man while trying to arrest him during a Downtown brawl in January 2013.

His lapel video wasn’t recording when he allegedly kicked a man in the genitals during a traffic stop a month later.

And police were unable to recover any video from his lapel camera after he shot and killed 19-year-old Mary Hawkes, who he said pulled a gun on him after a suspected car theft, last month. The camera’s manufacturer is examining the camera, police have said.

There were at least two other instances, which didn’t involve use of force, when he didn’t record his full encounters with the public, according to Dear’s personnel file obtained by KOAT-TV.

Under department policy, officers are supposed to record every interaction they have with members of the public.

It’s unclear if Dear was ever disciplined for any of the previous incidents in which he did not get video of his encounters. …

The DOJ report said requiring lapel camera use is a good policy but that it’s inconsistently used and not enforced strictly by APD.

“We found very few examples of officers being reprimanded for failing to record force incidents,” the report reads. “The fact that few officers were reprimanded for this failure suggests that supervisors have also failed to insist on this form of accountability.”

No video in several of officer’s arrests | Albuquerque Journal News

Election, loco

Lopez points to her experience, background | Albuquerque Journal News

Lopez points to her experience, background | Albuquerque Journal News

By James Monteleone / Journal Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: Tuesday, May 13, 2014 at 12:05 am

Copyright © 2014 Albuquerque Journal

For Linda Lopez, running for governor means offering New Mexicans more than a decade of experience as a state legislative leader and the viewpoint of a Hispanic woman.

Lopez, 50, was first elected to the state Senate to represent southwest Albuquerque in 1996, and after one term was tapped to serve as chairwoman of the high-profile Senate Rules Committee.

She says her political experience, ethnicity and gender mean she is best-suited among the five Democratic gubernatorial candidates to challenge Republican Gov. Susana Martinez – the nation’s first Hispanic female governor – in November.

It also means she’s better-prepared to collaborate with the Democratic-controlled Legislature than Martinez, Lopez says.

Lopez points to her experience, background | Albuquerque Journal News

Election, loco

Democratic Governor Candidates | Albuquerque Journal News

Governor (D) – Howie Morales | Albuquerque Journal News

By Stephen Williams / Asst. Politics Editor
UPDATED: Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:11 am
PUBLISHED: Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11:11 am

Howie Morales

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic

OCCUPATION: Educator/administrator at Gila Regional Medical Center (currently on leave); New Mexico state senator, Senate District 28

CITY/TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Silver City

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Member of Legislative Finance Committee; Grant County clerk from 2005 to 2008; special education teacher in Silver City from 1995 to 2000; special education and transition coordinator for Cobre School District from 2000 to 2005; LULAC Educator of the Year in 2005; longest-serving Big Brother in New Mexico

EDUCATION: B.A. in biology and special education from Western New Mexico University; M.A. in bilingual education from Western New Mexico University; Ph.D. in curriculum and instruction from New Mexico State University

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: Morales4NM.com

CANDIDATE STATEMENT: I am running for governor because we deserve better for our state. We need to create new solutions for our problems that reflect the new reality that we are facing. As governor, my top priority will be to create an education system that will offer a world-class education to all children beginning before birth and will be available to everyone. I will also focus on getting New Mexicans back to work and ensure that our workers are paid a fair wage with equal pay between men and women. Together, we can move New Mexico forward.

Governor (D) – Howie Morales | Albuquerque Journal News

Governor (D) – Alan Webber | Albuquerque Journal News

By Journal Staff
UPDATED: Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:11 am
PUBLISHED: Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11:11 am

Alan Webber

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic

OCCUPATION: Author, entrepreneur

CITY/TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Santa Fe

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: My experience is in entrepreneurship— in fostering innovative business models for small and midsize businesses. Before co-founding Fast Company magazine, I worked in city and federal government and as editor of the Harvard Business Review.

EDUCATION: B.A. from Amherst College; Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters from Boston Architectural College

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: www.AlanForNM.com

CANDIDATE STATEMENT: New Mexico needs great schools, with early education for every child. We need a minimum wage that pays $10.10 an hour. We need clean energy jobs from New Mexico’s plentiful wind and solar. As an entrepreneur, the tiny magazine I started out of my garage grew to become the most successful tech publication in American history. We can do all this and more if we stop giving tax breaks to big out-of-state corporations, and start listening to what New Mexicans want, rather than what the Koch brothers and tea party want. A better future starts right here with us.

Governor (D) – Alan Webber | Albuquerque Journal News

Governor (D) – Gary King | Albuquerque Journal News

By Stephen Williams / Asst. Politics Editor
UPDATED: Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:11 am
PUBLISHED: Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11:11 am

Gary K. King

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic

OCCUPATION: New Mexico attorney general

CITY/TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Moriarty

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Married to Yolanda Jones King. Maintained private practice as an attorney; served for 12 years in the New Mexico Legislature. U.S. Department of Energy, director of the Office of Worker and Community Transition.

EDUCATION: Attended New Mexico State University and obtained a bachelor’s degree in chemistry. Received Ph.D. in organic chemistry from the University of Colorado, Boulder. Attended law school at the University of New Mexico; received J.D.

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: www.garykingforgovernor.com

CANDIDATE STATEMENT: I was raised in a family where public service was a way of life. I watched my father speak for those with small voices, fight for those unable to fight for themselves and lend a hand to those who needed one without worrying if it was a handout or a hand up. As a young legislator, I wrote laws to protect everyday hardworking New Mexicans. As attorney general, I’ve focused on protecting our families from ruthless corporations, big insurance and power companies. I’ve focused on protecting our children from Internet predators. That’s what politics is to me — serving you.

Governor (D) – Gary King | Albuquerque Journal News

Low-key King runs his own race | Albuquerque Journal News

By Deborah Baker / Journal Staff Writer
PUBLISHED: Monday, May 12, 2014 at 12:05 am

Low-key King runs his own race | Albuquerque Journal News

Governor (D) – Lawrence Rael | Albuquerque Journal News

By Stephen Williams / Asst. Politics Editor
UPDATED: Monday, May 12, 2014 at 11:11 am
PUBLISHED: Friday, May 9, 2014 at 11:11 am

Lawrence Rael

POLITICAL PARTY: Democratic

OCCUPATION: Consultant

CITY/TOWN OF RESIDENCE: Albuquerque

RELEVANT EXPERIENCE: Thirty-five years serving New Mexico, creating jobs and growing local economies as: director, U.S. Department of Agriculture Farm Services Agency; president, New Mexico Green Chamber of Commerce; director, Mid-Region Council of Governments; chief administrative officer, city of Albuquerque.

EDUCATION: Bachelor’s degree in sociology from the University of New Mexico and a master’s degree in public administration with a concentration in public finance, also from UNM. Attended Harvard’s Kennedy School of Government as part of a program for senior executives.

CAMPAIGN WEBSITE: www.raelfornewmexico.com

CANDIDATE STATEMENT: I have spent my life creating jobs, expanding opportunity and making New Mexico a state we can all be proud to call home. I’m tired of New Mexico being last on all the good lists and first on all the bad lists. Changing this requires a governor who knows how to bring people together to get things done. From developing transportation infrastructure, to collaborating with farmers and ranchers to conserve water, to recruiting companies to New Mexico  — I have what it takes to put New Mexico back to work and on track to prosperity. I’d appreciate your vote June 3.

Governor (D) – Lawrence Rael | Albuquerque Journal News

WTF?!

We cannot punish the Rich.

A guy saunters into a cave and shoots a captive cougar point-blank. I think it is fair to call shameless Jason Roselius of Oklahoma City an over-privileged amoral cowardly prick. I’d be willing to contribute to the costs of putting up a billboard in OK City that says just that.

If you think justice was served in fining Roselius less than $600 while not even inconveniencing him with a court appearance, note that he paid $900,000 for Teddy Roosevelt’s shotgun. Teddy is spinning in his grave, fuming with rage over this rich bastard.

Lawyer makes deal in cougar killing | Albuquerque Journal News

According to Game and Fish officer case reports, Bidegain met Roselius in Tucumcari on the day of the hunt. When they arrived at the ranch, hunting dogs already had a male cougar cornered in a cave. Roselius got out of a truck, walked to the cave and killed the cougar with one shot from a .243-caliber rifle.

Roselius, Bidegain and the other men allegedly involved in the kill were charged with unlawful hunting because Game and Fish regulations say a hunter who kills a cougar must be present continuously once any dog is released.

Roselius also was charged with hunting without a license. While he had purchased a cougar license in New Mexico, he had failed to buy a required general game-hunting license and habitat management access validation stamp, according to Game and Fish.

Roselius entered his no contest plea in state Magistrate Court in Tucumcari as part of an agreement with the office of state District Attorney Timothy Rose.

In exchange for Roselius’ plea to unlawful hunting and his agreement to pay restitution and court costs, the DA’s Office dismissed the charge of hunting without a license. ..

Roselius didn’t appear in person for the plea hearing before Judge Buddy J. Hall, instead taking part by telephone.

Lawyer makes deal in cougar killing | Albuquerque Journal News

Judge Hall may have followed the letter of the law but he failed to teach this guy anything or to administer true justice. I’d have made Roselius serve 90 days mucking out mountain lion pens at the zoo and banned him from ever hunting again in New Mexico.

WTF?!

It is impossible to punish the Rich

I hesitate to waste a second on Donald Sterling, who is really just another old white racist who got some notoriety for that. For the moment, he steals the spotlight from the public-lands thief in Nevada who is a hero to the shameless radical right. I like to imagine there is a dwindling supply of ignorant bigots, but I’m a foolish optimist.

Sterling’s punishment is akin to taking a ball from a child who owns an entire chain of ball manufacturers and ball stores — futile and short-lived. He’ll buy another ball in an instant.

Those who see this as justice or simply a tale of how quickly one can fall from grace might do well to realize he’s not gouging out his eyes, committing seppuku, taking the black, or in line at a soup kitchen. He won’t spend a second in an actual pillory or shunned in any way he cares about. He’s not even remotely contrite or comprehending of the fuss and he is certain we have no right to judge him.

What is most on my mind is how two minutes of him being himself matter more to everyone than an entire lifetime of being himself. This guy didn’t misspeak or put his foot in his mouth or slip up. Sterling knows in his heart that old rich white men are better in every sense than anyone else. Not in the benign way that you think you’re a better driver or cook than someone else, but in the way that assumes anyone who is not a white male isn’t a human being.

The stench of that world view is impossible to hide, especially if you’re so rich you can command attention from anyone. How many times a day, in how many situations, has Sterling simply spoken his mind? Perhaps he has never been honest in a room full of basketball players, but I’m sure he felt he had the right to do so. After all, he owned them and gave them everything they owned.

I wonder about the enablers and yes-men who surround Sterling still. The people who didn’t leave the room when he entered or, worse, accepted his invitation to dinner or parties. The people who never said “shut the fuck up you spoiled bastard.” Would you speak your mind to this guy if he were your boss? 

Election, loco

What qualifies this guy to judge 800 probate cases per year?

From his lofty language, you’d think this guy is running for the Senate. He’s running to be a judge. But his blog post sounds very much like this is a stepping stone, not a job.

Judge Willow Parks, the incumbent, worked her way out of poverty and through law school. She is very qualified and experienced. She deserves your support. Please spread the word about how important this primary election is. Keep Judge Parks

Dominic Levi Lafayette shared his status update. – Dominic Levi Lafayette

That’s why I am running for office. It’s time we no longer elect the elite to office. We are not like the Ancient Romans who elected rich, noble patricians to the senate. Roman society rotted from the inside, and died.

Dominic Levi Lafayette shared his status update. – Dominic Levi Lafayette

"It does not require a majority to prevail, but rather an irate, tireless minority keen to set brush fires in people's minds." — Sam Adams