We have blogged on many occasions about the Phoenix Police Department’s befuddled Crime Lab under the leadership of one of the worst Assistant Chiefs, Tracy Montgomery(#4515). Now, others are taking notice, as well. More specifically, we are referring to an article reported in the April 2009 issue of the Times Publication titled, Justice Delayed.
http://www.timespublications.com/home.asp
The article was written by a great journalist, Shanna Hogan, and explains how 7 people are dead in Phoenix at the hands of two of the PPD’s finest: Chief Jack “Ass” Harris and Tracy Montgomery. BPC takes it a step further and believes that Mark Goudeau deserves a retrial. Our first issue is the existance another suspect that was never vetted out by the lead detective, Alex Femenia. The other issue is the fact that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his sidekick, Keith Manning, have been holding onto the report of this other suspect since August of 2008.
It’s important to keep in mind that, during the Baseline Killer Investigation and while 7 additional people were being murdered, Detective Mike Polombo (#4696) and Heather Polombo (#6237) began their now much blogged about affair and started knocking boots on city time. As tax payers in Phoenix, we paid for them to exchange DNA. Also keep in mind that Mike Polombo was storing crime evidence in his garage. We have often wondered where the chain-of-custody forms were for the evidence in his garage and why he wasn’t fired – but then realized that he is a friend of Jack Ass Harris, allowed to bang his subordinate, and to harass a good detective named Dave Barnes.
As the article explains, the Phoenix crime lab is back-logged with some 30,000 samples (that’s no typo - 30,000!!!) with no means or strategy to dig themselves out. We might also add that, while the lab is in turmoil and samples aren’t being processed, the lab’s arrogant leader, Tracy Montgomery, spends her time practicing her putt in the hallway and updating her FaceBook page. As we have mentioned in the past, other than Tracy getting her own Pap smear, Tracy has no lab experience, has never worked in a lab and doesn’t understand how a lab works. We actually have worked in a lab and have probably forgotten more than Tracy will ever know. We also putt a whole lot better, but we leave putting to a golf course.
For those of you who think we pick on Tracy solely because she is an outspoken Lesbian, we have this to offer: We don’t chastise her for being a Lesbian; we chastise her ineptitude and poor lab management skills. She got the job because she was a Friend of Jack Ass Harris and because the Phoenix City Manager, Frank Fairbanks, likes to promote "diversity" - or as our cop sources call it, "Frank's Rainbow Diversity Program." We are all for promoting diversity, but only when the candidate is qualified to do the job, and we don't think you should get a job solely because you a black, handicapped, female, gay, or are a Friend of Jack Ass Harris. There are many fine women and men in the PPD who are gay, and they have far more skill sets and discretion then Tracy Montgomery. One would hope that promotions are given by the content of one's character, their leadership abilities and one's ability to get a job done - not by how many conquests they have or how and who they bed. As the first and only woman to hold an Assistant Chief position in Phoenix, she has a large load to carry and we don’t think that includes posting photos of herself and her “friends” on FaceBook, or dating every woman in the police department and the county attorney's office. It’s also amazing that a person like Tracy with so much on her plate can selfishly and thoughtlessly hold outlandish parties at her home that are disruptive to her entire neighborhood. Hey Tracy, ever hear of OVERTIME??? Instead of trying to get laid, why not put in a few extra hours at the lab and help process the backlog or meet with a real lab to figure out an outsourcing plan and get some ideas to address the 30,000+ backlog? Oh yeah, that’s right … you don’t know how.
The article was written by a great journalist, Shanna Hogan, and explains how 7 people are dead in Phoenix at the hands of two of the PPD’s finest: Chief Jack “Ass” Harris and Tracy Montgomery. BPC takes it a step further and believes that Mark Goudeau deserves a retrial. Our first issue is the existance another suspect that was never vetted out by the lead detective, Alex Femenia. The other issue is the fact that Maricopa County Attorney Andrew Thomas and his sidekick, Keith Manning, have been holding onto the report of this other suspect since August of 2008.
It’s important to keep in mind that, during the Baseline Killer Investigation and while 7 additional people were being murdered, Detective Mike Polombo (#4696) and Heather Polombo (#6237) began their now much blogged about affair and started knocking boots on city time. As tax payers in Phoenix, we paid for them to exchange DNA. Also keep in mind that Mike Polombo was storing crime evidence in his garage. We have often wondered where the chain-of-custody forms were for the evidence in his garage and why he wasn’t fired – but then realized that he is a friend of Jack Ass Harris, allowed to bang his subordinate, and to harass a good detective named Dave Barnes.
As the article explains, the Phoenix crime lab is back-logged with some 30,000 samples (that’s no typo - 30,000!!!) with no means or strategy to dig themselves out. We might also add that, while the lab is in turmoil and samples aren’t being processed, the lab’s arrogant leader, Tracy Montgomery, spends her time practicing her putt in the hallway and updating her FaceBook page. As we have mentioned in the past, other than Tracy getting her own Pap smear, Tracy has no lab experience, has never worked in a lab and doesn’t understand how a lab works. We actually have worked in a lab and have probably forgotten more than Tracy will ever know. We also putt a whole lot better, but we leave putting to a golf course.
For those of you who think we pick on Tracy solely because she is an outspoken Lesbian, we have this to offer: We don’t chastise her for being a Lesbian; we chastise her ineptitude and poor lab management skills. She got the job because she was a Friend of Jack Ass Harris and because the Phoenix City Manager, Frank Fairbanks, likes to promote "diversity" - or as our cop sources call it, "Frank's Rainbow Diversity Program." We are all for promoting diversity, but only when the candidate is qualified to do the job, and we don't think you should get a job solely because you a black, handicapped, female, gay, or are a Friend of Jack Ass Harris. There are many fine women and men in the PPD who are gay, and they have far more skill sets and discretion then Tracy Montgomery. One would hope that promotions are given by the content of one's character, their leadership abilities and one's ability to get a job done - not by how many conquests they have or how and who they bed. As the first and only woman to hold an Assistant Chief position in Phoenix, she has a large load to carry and we don’t think that includes posting photos of herself and her “friends” on FaceBook, or dating every woman in the police department and the county attorney's office. It’s also amazing that a person like Tracy with so much on her plate can selfishly and thoughtlessly hold outlandish parties at her home that are disruptive to her entire neighborhood. Hey Tracy, ever hear of OVERTIME??? Instead of trying to get laid, why not put in a few extra hours at the lab and help process the backlog or meet with a real lab to figure out an outsourcing plan and get some ideas to address the 30,000+ backlog? Oh yeah, that’s right … you don’t know how.
The Phoenix Police Department blames the lab issues on “software problems” - we have repeatedly offered our assistance to come in and fix these “problems”, but have yet to be taken up on it. We think it really isn’t a “software problem”, but more of a “Tracy Montgomery can't lead or manage her way out of a paperbag, problem”. When one of the detectives, Dave Barnes, complained about the lab, he was demoted to work patrol! Tracy Montgomery has since shutdown her FaceBook page as she tired of our posting all of her photos here!
It's quite apparent that the likes of Polombo and Montgomery never received the "Don't Shit Where You Eat" discussion from any mentors or from Chief Jack Ass Harris. Our sources tell us that Tracy's father was a cop - one of the good ones - and he must be disgusted with her actions and behavior.
So enjoy the article and, if you feel so moved, please email any of the names to the right and let them know your disgust about the Phoenix Crime Lab.
REMEMBER: All Phoenix Police officer's and official's emails are first.last@phoenix.gov , so feel free to ping them with your thoughts and ideas on how to fix our Lab, or just ask the simple question: "What is your plan to process the backlog of 30,000+ requests in the Phoenix Crime Lab and what did you say to the 7 families that lost someone due to your inability to manage our Crime Lab?"
The chief of Police Jack Ass Harris likes to hide behind his assistant's email lisa.coombe@phoenix.gov, and you may find the others at tracy.montgomery@phoenix.gov, frank.fairbanks@phoenix.gov, mike.polombo@phoenix.gov
17 comments:
Rumor has it that a dozen or so more search warrants are coming on cops. The only thing stopping them is the City, trying to talk some common sense into the PPD.
Jack Harris be forwarned: Raiding more officers homes to continue this witch hunt for Polombo and his tramp is no bueno!
Be careful! The cops you raid and there friends have so much dirt on you personally, the city, and Gordon if you think what is being published now is bad...just wait!
Any officer who thinks they might be under investigation: back up your stuff now and keep your computer stuff in a safe deposit box or with a neighbor.
Here's some advice Jack Harris...When you find yourself in a hole, stop digging.
Is that putting green strip in the hallway bought and paid for with taxpayer money? And was the practice of her golf game on the taxpayer dime? I did not even need to read much after seeing those "goof-offs".
I now understand why federal agents have to get the approval of a US Attorney for any subpoenas or search warrants, or even to make an arrest in an ongoing investigation. Without the US Attorney being on board, nothing gets approved or granted and a warrant can't even go to a Judge without the US Attorney's approval first and backing. It is cases like the ones here that should get the County Attorney to implement the same protocol for ongoing investigations. This is what happens when one is given to much power with no oversight.
As for the crime lab and the Asst Chief assigned there, it is a shame the city council has not stepped in and removed her. There is another posting about one of Montgomery's covers ups involving the death of a boy who drowned. The bodies are adding up under Montgomery. She should be investigated for negligent homicide.
Right on!
Furthermore, Jack Ass and Pencil Neck Phil need to lay off ShHeriff Joe and focus on their own house: http://anti-contrarian.blogspot.com/2009/04/witch-hunt.html
I new to this blog and just noticed the moderation...why moderate comments? Allow a free exchange and you might learn even more than you want to know.
Wow, I just discovered your blog and I must say that it actually makes the police department in my city look professional - which is no easy task.
This is reposted from one of the many Blogs out there carrying this story. I can't take credit for these comment, but understand it comes from a Civil Rights Attorney.
I think the Phoenix PD just stepped in a big pile of shit and are about to lose their shirts over this one.
____________________
Note to Jeff Pataky: Thanks. There’s still a specific point that doesn’t make any sense. It’s the same point that I asked about previously, but I can state my concern more precisely now, since you were kind enough to post the law.
If you’re busy, there’s no need for you to respond. Additionally, I’m aware that you’ve got plenty of people involved who know what they’re doing. Questions from the outside won’t necessarily be helpful. However, I haven’t seen anybody, including you, address one specific and interesting point anywhere. I’ll restate my original question based on the text that you provided. If you’re not able to respond, perhaps somebody else will educate me. My concern is described below:
I’ve read the law. It’s not that the case is weak. It might be more significant than that. I’m wondering if people on the other side might have committed a prosecutable offense themselves.
Obviously, they’re going after Mr. Pataky based on part 5. That’s what people seem to be focusing on. I’m talking about a different issue. Part 5 is apparently a subsection of part A. Not clear, because post 214 appears to be an excerpt. If part 5 is a subsection of part A, part A must apply before somebody can be charged under part 5.
Part A states explicitly that, to be charged, you must be “A person who acts without authority or who exceeds authorization of use”. The “authority” and “authorization of use” parts apparently refer to hardware, things like the “computer” and “network” mentioned later on in part 5.
That’s consistent with the word “tampering”, the word that I asked about in an earlier post.
Exactly what was the hardware that Mr. Pataky didn’t have “authority” over or that he exceeded “authorization of use” for? That’s the question. No vague gestures or mumbling, please. Exactly what was the hardware?
It certainly wasn’t Mr. Pataky’s own computer or his local network He’s got “authorization” to use his own computer and local network. So what was it?
Was the hardware in question the Internet? Did Mr. Pataky exceed “authorization of use” for the Internet? The only “authorization” that seems to be relevant there is the ISP’s TOS. Was there a specific claim that Mr. Pataky had violated the ISP’s TOS, and was the raid based on his alleged violation of the TOS ?
Was the hardware in question a “computer” or “network” located inside the police department? If so, how do the words “authority” or “authorization of use” apply? Do they apply because people sent E-mail to Mr. Pataky from those computers or because he sent E-mail that was received by them? If that’s the allegation, where is the “authority” or “authorization of use” that applies written down? Is it posted on a web site? URL, please.
Is there another law which states it? Section, please. Is it on a 3×5 card that’s taped to the wall at the police station?
If the hardware that Mr. Pataky didn’t have “authority” to use or that he exceeded “authorization of use” for was a police “computer” or “network”, did he exceed “authorization of use” by having a web site? That can’t be right. Web sites don’t enter local networks the way that E-mail does. Visitors go to web sites. So Mr. Pataky didn’t “use” a police “computer” or “network” simply by having a web site.
This doesn’t seem to be a minor issue. Obviously, there’s a good chance that I’ve overlooked something. However, if the raid was conducted without a specific, articulable basis for charges under part A, not just part 5, didn’t the people who obtained the search warrant do so under false pretenses?
I’m talking about the difference between a weak case and actual fraud. If nobody can even state how part A applies, it appears to be fraud.
I’m aware that somebody might be able to cobble together some sort of answer for this question now, long after the fact. I’ve seen this kind of thing before. However, if the answer didn’t exist at the time that the search warrant was obtained, doesn’t this pose serious problems for the other side? I don’t mean problems for their case. I mean, didn’t they break the law?
I just read about the Phoenix police raiding your home via digg.com. Good luck with your trial. Don't let the man keep you down. Rock on.
My comments are two-fold:
Dear Mr. Civil Rights Attorney - Thank you for spelling out the violation of Jeff Pataky in such a succinct and logical way. Cleary PPD acted outside of the law with their Gestapo tactics and should be penalized (read that charged and prosecuted) so that this sort of criminal conduct is stopped. Furthermore, Jeff is high profile, smart, and will not settle for this treatment, but what about all the other citizens in this city without a voice, savviness, or means who’s rights have been trampled on by corrupt cops and detectives in PPD? Well I shudder to think of the innocent lives that have been ruined by similar tactics.
My second comment: Absolutely Mark Goudeau needs a re-trial. The year long cover up of another suspect; the fact that nothing – not even DNA – connects Goudeau to many of the crimes; the public comments by detectives posted by PLEA about the covering up of exonerating evidence and referring to Goudeau as a N-R!. And let’s not forget the tenuous nature of the DNA they CLAIM to have at some of the crime scenes and the unscrupulous tactics of the prosecutors Suzanne Cohen and William Clayton and their paid DNA expert. Re-trial? Really, a dismissal should be in order.
Go BPP! Without you none of this or any of the other issues on your blog would have ever come to light!
Note to Rogue:
We need to moderate the comments on this board. There are too many "trolls" including bitter ex wives and people ranting about stuff that has nothing to do with the phoenix police. It also limits spam.
Tracy Montgomery was not the fist female assistant chief as your entry indicates though it is true she is currently the only female.
Also, the golfing was for charity. They do it annually. You pay per put and the money goes to charity.
I am simply amazed that Montgomery is playing "golf" in the hallway when cases need to be solved. If any of us were to do that at our place of employment, we would immediately be fired.
As for the article about Mark Goudeau being the Baseline Killer and more people would have been saved if the DNA evidence was processed more quickly, I am not sure that he is the Baseline Killer.
First off, the DNA evidence they had (from my knowledge of the case) was from two sisters that he was convicted of raping. I watched the entire trial, and 3 of 13 Loci is NOT a match. Those girls couldn't even identify him in court - one of them identified his attorney. For those charges he needs a retrial!!
They put him in jail for that crime and then decided that he was the Baseline Killer, even though there was another viable suspect. I think they just wanted to hang the murders on someone to get the heat off of them at PPD.
As the public, we need to demand that the other suspect be fully investigated, his DNA tested, etc.
It would certainly be a miscarriage of justice for an innocent man to be in jail.
To April 13th poster at 9:52AM.
I think you are a troll. This does not look like an annual charity event. Where is everyone else? Why is it in the middle of the hallway? Where is the money? Where is all the glitter, signage and swag noting this as an annual event? What Lab SOP allows you to putt in the hallway or hold a charity event in the hallway? Why is that woman walking away if this was a "charity event?"
I want to hear from more inside of the Lab to see if this was indeed their "annual event".
Dig into the now basement of Phoenix PD to see how deep the
dirt goes. Ask about the Crime Lab. Ask about former director
of the crime lab, Joe Collier.
Ask about his private
practice he ran of "reasonable doubt for a reasonable fee"
rebuttal of forensic evidence. Research done with Phoenix PD
lab equipment and Collier pocketing the fees.
Ask about Frank Rodgers, the ex-head of the Fingerprint
Division. As about the time he shoved a mouse under one of
his women fingerprint examiners, just to listen to her squeal.
She brought sexual harrasment charges against rodgers,
only the investigation was killed and Frank was given a short
vacation.
Ask about Frank Lying to Anne Quigley, another of this female
examiners about being allowed to alter her work schedule to deal
with a family crisis. She was told she could work days for as long as
she needed to . . . only to be told after three month to go
back to midnights.
Ask about the way he treated Ruby Ross when she requested
time off for a family funeral. She was told to take what vacation time
she needed. After three days, she got a phone call, "You've
had your time off. Get your Ass back to work"
No, these people did not have a badge, but they were just as
tainted and prejudiced as the badge carrying cops you show
in your blog.
Shanna,
I just read your article entitled Justice Delayed in the Scottsdale Times.
Although many of your details are correct in the timeline of the DNA swab, you are completely inaccurate stating that they learned of Mark by a CODIS hit on his DNA. I have no idea where you got this information, but I am assuming you pulled it out of your butt. A match to Mark was NEVER RETURNED FROM THE CODIS DATABASE. The true fact is that Mark’s name was provided to the DNA technician who fished his DNA out and forced a match as best as she could.
What you also do not know, or maybe you choose to ignore, is that Mark only matches 3 out of 13 genetic markers. A partial match that low WILL NOT PRODUCE A HIT IN CODIS. If you had attended the sexual assault trial last year you would know this. The prosecutors were not EVEN ALLOWED TO USE THE WORD MATCH when referring to the DNA.
So, as what seems to be typical with local reports including you, is a complete inability of investigating the facts. I’m talking about something as simple as reading the court transcripts. Beyond your capabilities, I guess.
Basing an entire article on interviews void of any research of documentation to back it up produced misleading and inaccurate information -completely irresponsible. This perpetual baloney that Mark’s DNA is a match is hard to bare. Because of this continued witch hunt against Mark, he will NEVER receive a fair trial.
Mark is an innocent man who has been caught in the snare of a desperate, overworked, corrupt police department who needed a scapegoat and who knee jerked to misinformation from a lab tech who called the police incorrectly stating she had a match. Under cross examination at the sexual assault trial this inept lab tech, Lorraine Heath, admitted that she did not tell the police of the limitation of her findings – read that NOT A MATCH. This inexperienced technician (two years of actual DNA lab experience) has since fled the country.
Although many appreciate your story regarding the issues of PPDs crime lab, I think I would drop dead if a single reporter in the Valley actually researched, investigated and reported the truth. You should be ashamed of yourself.
"I think you are a troll. This does not look like an annual charity event."
They did the 3rd annual version of it yesterday. They had pop corn and golf. This photo is actually on the poster hanging up in every bathroom and hall way advertising the event.
.
Situation normal for Phoenix, Airheadzona.
It's a one-horse town, without a horse, but loaded with jackasses. And it mistakenly thinks it's a "real" big boy city.
I would have been long gone by now if the housing market hadn't collapsed.
I'm a law-abiding citizen, so my interactions with cops here have been few, but even so, I have little positive to say about them. Come to think of it, I have NOTHING positive to say about them.
Years ago, I followed a hit-and-run jerk so I could get his license number and report it to the police. Did I hear back from them? Of course not!
So, weeks later I called to find out the status on the incident and was told the hit-and-run driver had been cited for some lesser charge. When I enquired why, I was told I should ask the female cop who cited the driver. I left a message for her, asking her to return my call. Did she? Of course not! The female cops are actually the worst. They'd all be looking for more appropriate employment if I ran the show.
Oh well, to hell. Fight On!
~ STMcC
<"As a dog returns to his own vomit,
so a fool repeats his folly."
~ Proverbs 26:11>
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