Albuquerque police chief speaks about how DWI Unit evaded detection
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – KRQE Investigates Reporter Ann Pierret sat down with Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina to discuss how officers were able to get away with their scheme in the DWI Unit scandal. “I look at what I know and how it was generational, and I see how it just got passed down from one generation to the next generation to the officer to the next. But I also don’t think this was very blatant,” said Chief Medina.
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Albuquerque’s police chief said the scheme changed over time and only became known once those involved got sloppy. “I think they had a very tight-knit group of individuals that didn’t talk about it. Of those that APD announced were under investigation, personnel files show that Honorio Alba Jr., Harvey Johnson, and Neill Elsman went through the police academy together. “So these individuals knew each other and they trusted each other for a long time, since academy days,” said Chief Medina.
So how did they get away with it? KRQE News 13 Investigative Reporter Ann Pierret said that the chief believes officers filed lapel video under an incorrect case number so it couldn’t be provided as evidence. And for some arrests, they did not file a criminal complaint. Just how many? Medina believes it will never be known. A previous KRQE Investigates report also found out officers let go drivers with a summons to appear in court instead of taking them to jail.
In one case, Officer Honorio Alba Jr. told a woman the prison transport center, which they were currently inside, was closed. He had her call a friend for a ride.
Pierret: “Was there a thought maybe, they were waiting to see if the person paid and then they didn’t. And that’s why…?”Chief Medina: “That’s what I think was occurring.”
But Chief Medina said the scheme ultimately wasn’t sustainable, especially with the policy changes APD had to make under an unrelated settlement with the U.S. Department of Justice. “I don’t think anybody ever fathomed that this could be occurring, and they didn’t realize the loops that needed to be closed,” said Chief Medina.
Among those changes, booking someone into jail is mandatory, and mailing criminal summonses is only allowed in “unique circumstances.” Lapel camera footage is now auto-indexed and supervisors review it monthly.
“You know, obviously there was an internal investigation on the first-line supervision of the unit. And I think that’s where all of those things could have been caught,” said Chief Medina. The department has also tightened its procedures surrounding officers missing court. Internal affairs now investigate an officer’s reason for not showing up, and APD has entered into an agreement with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office to ensure the team gets notified.
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