On July 17, the Albuquerque Journal published a guest column by State Senator Mimi Stewart and Representative Debbie Sarinana entitled “ProgressNow keeps our eyes on the wrong prize” and subtitled “Be inclusive and take your allies wherever you find them”. The letter by both state legislators goes to the defense of City Council President Pat Davis after ProgressNow demanded that Davis resign from the Albuquerque City Council after his extensive history of conduct and unconstitutional policing practices were revealed. You can read the entire letter to the editor at this link:
https://www.abqjournal.com/1476698/progressnow-keeps-our-eyes-on-the-wrong-prize.html
The letter to the Albuquerque Journal by State Senator Mimi Stewart and Representative Debbie Sarinana going to the defense of City Council President Pat Davis is what’s truly wrong with the Democratic Party, especially the progressive wing in New Mexico. Their attitude is to “forgive and forget” when it comes to one “who is now one of your own”. Both legislators write in part:
“It is disappointing the new leaders of groups like ProgressNow did not stop to study the source of attacks on an ally, which was discredited by the Albuquerque Journal and Associated Press, or to understand the story of reform from former Republicans like Davis who now proudly carry the progressive flag. Ironically, those groups know of Davis’ story because he has so courageously recounted in countless policy fights for criminal justice reform and social equity. On police reform in particular, shouldn’t we support the voices of those most impacted with that of former officers trained in those tactics, like Pat, who cross the thin blue line and organize with those fighting for change?”
What is truly disappointing is the the legislator’s false narrative that the new leaders of ProgressNow did not stop to study the source of attacks on an ally and say the source of attacks were discredited by the Albuquerque Journal and Associated Press. That is simply not true and both legislators know it. ProgressNow actually examined the facts and circumstances of Davis’s conduct as a Washington, D. C. cop and as a UNM Campus police cop. In their June 25 statement entitled “ProgressNow New Mexico Statement on Councilor Davis’ Shooting of a Black Man and Pattern of Upholding Racist Institutions” wrote in part:
“This week, new details have surfaced regarding former ProgressNow New Mexico Executive Director and Albuquerque City Councilor Pat Davis’ shooting of a Black man while working as a cop in Washington D.C. … Unfortunately, Davis’ shooting of a Black man isn’t the only example of his troubling actions. A pattern has unearthed that continues into the present. After Davis moved to Albuquerque, he had multiple civil rights complaints lodged against him while serving as a cop at the University of New Mexico.
What is downright disgusting is when Stewart and Sarinana proclaim that Davis has “courageously in countless policy fights for criminal justice reform and social equity” admitted his past conduct. What would be courageous is not just mentioning his past conduct to somehow gain credibility but to apologize to those he victimized and step down as an elected official.
What is equally disgusting is when Stewart and Sarinana ask “shouldn’t we support the voices of those most impacted with that of former officers trained in those tactics, like Pat, who cross the thin blue line and organize with those fighting for change?” One of those voices most impacted by Davis’s conduct is an African American who was shot twice by Davis without provocation when he was a D.C. cop. Davis victimized him again when he took him into custody and drove erratically resulting in the gunshot wounds to reopen. Then there are the 6 victims in New Mexico who were victims of his conduct as a UNM campus cop. Those voices impacted by Davis include 2 single woman who were the targets of unconstitutional searches of their homes in Corrales, NM, where Davis had no jurisdiction and who Davis coerced into allowing a search of their homes and causing tremendous damages. It is not at all likely that the 7 victims and voices impacted by Davis are as forgiving as Stewart and Sarinana and they are damn fools if they think so.
Stewart and Sariana with their letter are clearly trying to make Pat Davis out as some sort of a hero to the Democratic Party when they say Davis is the “story of reform from former Republicans like Davis who now proudly carry the progressive flag.” With Pat Davis “proudly carrying the progressive flag” comes embarrassment to the Democratic party.
The truth is, there is conduct that must never be forgotten nor forgiven, such as the pedophilia of billionaire Jeffry Epstein and the sexual harassment and rape of woman by Hollywood Producer Harvey Weinstein. After all, the attitude of “forgive and forget” is contrary to the “Me Too Movement”. Forgetting the past conduct of Pat Davis as a cop is also contrary to any sort of police reform.
When Stewart and Sariana write “This is a real low point for the progressive movement, but let’s hope it’s just a speed bump and not the start of a long decline” they really miss the mark and are essentially going to the defense of someone whose past conduct is indefensible. When they say “We encourage all those who want meaningful reform to keep our eyes on the prize so we can win in November and then in January” they seem to think they are playing some sort of carnival game. The stakes are high and we are dealing with life and death situations when it comes to police reform.
Pat Davis has actually said recently he “made arrests and instigated some encounters I wouldn’t be proud of today” yet there is no apology for his actions to any one he brutalized. Pat Davis is running around proclaiming that he is a former bad cop and he has changed and has had some sort of an epiphany. Pat Davis now proclaims that because he was a former cop and did things in the past he was not too proud of, he has changed and for that reason he is the guy to lead the charge in reforming APD. What is so damn pathetic is that Pat Davis probably now believes people are buying his garbage after the letter written on his behalf by Senator Mimi Stewart and Representative Debbie Sarinana. It is likely that Pat Davis, or one of Stewart’s and Sariana’s progressive political consultants, went out of their way to solicit the letter from Stewart and Sariana.
Given what is known about City Councilor Pat Davis, his actions as a police officer, his litigation history, his credibility is in serious doubt as are his political motives. The real Pat Davis, and his lack of respect for constitutional rights are revealed by his pattern of conduct he engaged if for years and was sued for as a UNM Police Officer and his conduct as a DC Police Officer. Pat Davis has no business making decisions regarding police reforms, law enforcement policy let alone be involved in the process deciding who is fit to be a judge.
The last thing this State and this City needs is for legislators like Senator Mimi Stewart and Representative Debbie Sarinana to go to the defense of the likes of Pat Davis because they feel the progressive movement somehow needs him and it needs to take allies wherever it can find them. Next thing you know Senator Mimi Stewart and Representative Debbie Sarinana will be trying to draft former State Senator Manny Aragon to run for Governor of New Mexico.