Joaquin Baca is picking up the torch. Baca, a hydrologist with the U.S. Forest Service was elected in November to fill the City Council seat of longtime Councilor Isaac Benton, who served for 18 years. Baca represents District 2, which includes downtown, Old Town, the West Mesa and Pat Hurley neighborhoods and part of the […]
Category: Albuquerque
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
APD Chief addresses federal investigation into DWI officers
Five days after federal authorities searched the homes of Albuquerque Police Department officers and the office of a local defense attorney, department leadership provided additional details about the case and announced that it has launched an administrative investigation into the officers. None of the officers have been charged with a crime “at this point in […]
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APD comes under fire at City Council meeting
Allegations of unchecked corruption, lack of leadership, lack of communication and a call for accountability dominated the Albuquerque City Council meeting Monday. Councilors had sharp words for leaders of the Police Department and Mayor Tim Keller after recent FBI raids on the homes of police officers as part of a federal investigation. The investigation led […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Ten percent of DWI cases filed by APD in 2023 have been dropped in fallout from FBI investigation
The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office has now dismissed four felony DWI cases, in addition to 152 misdemeanor DWI cases, following a federal investigation into Albuquerque Police Department officers. This means that just over 10% of the 1,026 DWI cases submitted by APD officers in 2023 have now been dismissed. In addition to 106 cases […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
The feds are investigating APD officers. What are some of the department’s other notable scandals?
Late Thursday, after months of investigation, federal authorities conducted “law enforcement activity,” at several homes of Albuquerque Police Department officers. At the same time, a local defense attorney’s office was also raided by the FBI. Then the Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office dismissed 152 misdemeanor DWI cases, with DA Sam Bregman saying his “prosecutorial ethics” […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
ABQ’s crime briefs
Within the last seven days, there have been two homicides in the city—one in front of a notorious convenience store on east Central and one in a neighborhood near San Mateo and Gibson SE. There have now been five homicides within city limits so far this year. The Albuquerque Police Department also arrested the man […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Education
And then there were two
Albuquerque Public Schools announced today that one of the three superintendent finalists chosen by the Board of Education last week, has withdrawn from the search. Mason Bellamy, who currently serves as the Chief of Academics and Schools for Metro Nashville Public Schools, informed the search firm over the weekend that he is no longer pursuing […]
Posted inJobs, Workers & Economy, Nob Hill & UNM
A mission to wine and dine
Jessica and Seth Beecher’s hip and buzzy 2022 freshman effort in Nob Hill is being followed by an equally hip and buzzy sophomore one in 2024. After the launch of the Central Bodega restaurant with two partners, the couple has embarked on an even bigger project just across the street. That means the busy Nob […]
Posted inAlbuquerque, Courts, Justice & Safety
Defense attorney targeted in federal raid denies wrongdoing
The federal investigation into several Albuquerque Police Department officers also appears to involve at least one defense attorney, whose office was searched Thursday morning. Authorities have not released any additional information about the investigation. But there has been widespread speculation among law enforcement and the legal community that the investigation involves defense attorneys and police […]
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Councilors will set federal priorities at Monday meeting
City councilors Monday will decide what direction they want Albuquerque’s Washington advocates to push in for the next two fiscal years. A resolution on the agenda would establish federal programming and policy priorities for the city for federal fiscal years 2024 and 2025. At the Jan. 8 council meeting, the group discussed a priority list, […]