Ongoing Series
APD DWI Unit Investigation
On January 18, 2024, the Albuquerque legal community was rocked by the disclosure of a federal investigation including FBI raids on the homes of officers assigned APD’s DWI Unit and legal professionals who work on those cases. In the weeks since, APD Chief Harold Medina has warned city councilors that the investigation may be “bigger” than is now known.
Follow the latest from Elise Kaplan, City Desk’s Assistant Editor for Investigations, and our City Desk team as we follow the investigation.
Internal affairs cmdr. tied to DWI probe was fired for being ‘untruthful’
The highest ranking officer under internal investigation regarding the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit — and the one-time head of the division that routinely conducts such investigations — was untruthful, did not cooperate with an investigation and shared confidential information, according to a misconduct report filed with the Department of…
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“What we know and don’t know about the APD corruption investigation”: City Desk’s Elise Kaplan joins NM In Focus
NMPBS’ New Mexico In Focus looks at the state of the APD corruption scandal in this week’s episode airing on NMPBS Friday at 7:00pm and again Sunday morning…
APD officer connected to DWI scandal fired, another resigns
The highest ranking cop under an internal investigation regarding allegations of corruption in the Albuquerque…
Man who alerted FBI to possible corruption in APD’s DWI unit speaks out
In the early morning hours of April 22, 2022, Jaden Brown was driving home from…
Timeline: The investigation into corruption in APD’s DWI unit
Since news broke that several members of the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI unit were being…
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Another officer — the 9th — put on leave amidst internal investigation of DWI unit
The Albuquerque Police Department has expanded its internal investigation into corruption in the DWI unit to yet another officer — bringing the total to nine. Matthew Trahan was put on…
Sixth officer leaves APD amid corruption probe
A former long-time Albuquerque police spokesperson — a sworn officer who responded to media inquiries during the swing shift — has left the department rather than be interviewed as part…
APD got a tip in 2022 that DWI officers were being paid to get cases dismissed. Its review did not find wrongdoing.
In December 2022, the acting sergeant of the Albuquerque Police Department’s Criminal Intelligence Unit got a tip about officers in the DWI unit getting paid “to get a case dismissed.”…
Can former DWI officers under investigation still work as cops?
As news continues to unfold about the five officers suspected of working with a local defense attorney, Thomas Clear III, to get those accused of driving while intoxicated off the…
Attorney: DWI corruption scheme ‘goes outward and upward’
Editor’s note: This story has been updated to include details recently obtained from Joshua Montaño’s resignation letter. When officer Joshua Montaño was put on administrative leave after the news broke…
Fourth APD officer resigns while under investigation in DWI corruption case
A fourth Albuquerque Police Department officer has resigned rather than be interviewed as part of an internal investigation into allegations of misconduct by DWI officers. Nelson Ortiz resigned Thursday, according…
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