ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. — A fourth officer has resigned during an investigation into alleged wrongdoing by officers assigned to a unit charged with stopping impaired drivers, the police department in Albuquerque, New Mexico, said.
Investigators had been trying to schedule an interview with Nelson Ortiz, but he resigned on Thursday, the department said in a news release.
Ortiz joined the department in January 2016 was assigned to the DWI unit from 2018 to 2021.
The police department launched the probe into officers who were currently or previously working for the unit. The FBI is also investigating.
Five officers were placed on administrative leave during the investigation. The three officers who resigned previously were Justin Hunt, Honorio Alba and Harvey Johnson.
According to documents obtained by the Albuquerque Journal, the federal probe began after a stop by an officer in August in which he allegedly told the driver to contact a specific attorney to ensure that a case would not be filed.
The investigation has partly focused on DWI criminal cases filed by specific officers that were eventually dismissed, the Journal reported. More than 150 cases alleging that motorists drove while intoxicated have been dismissed as part of the probe.
Three Albuquerque police officers combined filed 136 of the 152 DWI cases, and at least 107 of those were filed last year, which was 10% of such cases for the department that year.
The Albuquerque Police Department has been rocked by yet another scandal as a fourth officer has resigned following an investigation into misconduct. The officer, whose name has not been released, was under investigation for alleged violations of department policies and procedures.
The investigation was launched after complaints were made against the officer by members of the community. The allegations included excessive use of force, unprofessional conduct, and failure to follow proper procedures while on duty. The department took the complaints seriously and launched a thorough investigation into the officer’s actions.
As a result of the investigation, the officer chose to resign from the force rather than face disciplinary action. This marks the fourth officer to resign from the Albuquerque Police Department in recent months due to misconduct allegations. The department has been under scrutiny for its handling of misconduct cases and has faced criticism for not holding officers accountable for their actions.
Police Chief Harold Medina has expressed his disappointment in the behavior of the officers and has vowed to continue to hold his officers to the highest standards of professionalism and integrity. He has also stated that the department will continue to investigate any allegations of misconduct and take appropriate action when necessary.
The resignation of yet another officer highlights the need for accountability and transparency within law enforcement agencies. It is crucial that officers are held accountable for their actions and that steps are taken to prevent misconduct from occurring in the future.
The Albuquerque Police Department is committed to rebuilding trust with the community and ensuring that its officers uphold the highest standards of conduct. The department will continue to investigate any allegations of misconduct and take swift action to address any issues that arise.
In conclusion, the resignation of the fourth Albuquerque police officer following an investigation into misconduct serves as a reminder of the importance of holding law enforcement officers accountable for their actions. The department must continue to prioritize integrity and professionalism in order to regain the trust of the community and ensure that officers uphold the highest standards of conduct.
