DWI corruption scandal: The APD officers and attorney at the center of a federal investigation 

The only thing that is surprising about this is the fact that they are investigating it.

We investigated ourselves and found no wrongdoing by our fine officers. Bullsh!t.

Having a list of crooked cops isn’t enough, those cops all should be de-certified and barred from public service for life. A corrupt cop shouldn’t be allowed to stay a corrupt cop period.

If officers were not showing up for court, why did it take an investigation of this magnitude to figure it out? Why are they on paid leave? Mayor Keller says he hopes these officers never work in the City of Albuquerque again. Are there no criminal charges that suit this situation? 🤔

Why would a cop need money for medical expenses if he was hit by a drunk driver on the job? The city insurance covered every single expense . All that go fund me money went in his pocket.

Seems like it’s a good time to reevaluate police accountability and realize that “internal investigations” and paid vacation “punishments” were never a good idea and not acceptable forms of punishment. Holding cops to a higher standard with real accountability and consequences is good for everyone except bad cops and bad chiefs.

So, are they going to pull their certification and ban them from ever getting certified again? Or, are they just going to move to another police precinct and do it all over again?

When cops arrest and charge someone with a crime they get booked and most times go to jail. The jobs these people held when arrested do not keep paying these employees. So why do these cops keep collecting a pay check? They should be charged, arrested and booked into the jail just like the rest of us. They should also have to prove their Innocence like the rest of us.

MADD may have good intentions "at heart" but incentivizing DWI arrests is not a good idea. This can lead to innocent citizens being arrested, such as what happened to the pilot in Loveland, CO. He may have won $400,000 in a settlement because he had the money to pursue, but most of his victims did not.

The whole freaking system is crooked…

What a corrupt city.

I imagine it worked like this: you get nailed on a dwi, someone let's you know if you have the money you can hire the attorney in the report, pay him X amount of dollars, he pays off the cop to not show up and you go down the road.

I just finished 24yrs of active duty service, supporting and depending the same constitution these LEO’s took an oath to defend and protect. The lack of integrity, service before self accountability, honor…etc just baffles me. Let’s just call them what they are: domestic terrorist. Of course there’s bad apples in the military as well but we’re trained to speak up, not be a bystander, lead, protect, support and be accountable for our actions. When we swear an oath we’re instantly held to a higher standard.

One of those officers was HIT by a drunk driver, and still schemed to let so many back on our streets unpunished, for money. Absolutely disgusting.

That one cop’s name is Honorio 😂 parents should have named him Corruptio

Who works at a place like that? Who works with people like this? Like, how lacking self respect do you have to be to work at a place like that?

Maybe if we didn't just allow police to volunteer for unlimited overtime. . .

Being a corrupt cop is one of few jobs you can be investigated by the FBI and your bosses put you a paid leave… 😖

148,000 dollars a year. I officially have no sympathy for any police officer ever.

APD works for the catrels

The MADD (Mothers Against Drunk Drivers) organization has a larger involvement here than anyone realizes. The award they show the one officer receiving is competed for by local law enforcement agencies throughout the nation. The award is for the amount of arrests the officer makes, not convictions. This is why officers still arrest people who blow a 0.000 BAC. The arrest is all they care about. It appears that these officers made a deal with the attorney to get a kickback for then not showing up for court.

I wonder if those twin brothers who just joined APD still feel like they’re living their dream.

How many untrustworthy officers can a department employ, before we should believe the whole department is untrustworthy?

Brady list??? If these officers have credibility issues, then why are even kept on as officers?

"To serve and Protect" Themselves and each other

Every one of them earning a healthy 6 figure income. Too bad they won't hire honest people that know the law and understand the Bill of Rights, making me unqualified for the position.

Good job, real journalism for the win

Imagine that; who would think police officers having credibility issues.

148 thousand dollars per year? Who says these guys are underpaid?

If they received money from the attorney, the IRS will have their handout for unpaid taxes.

Don’t think this is as “rare” as people might think. Doesn’t just happen with DUIs, regular violations (real and bogus) too. We’re at a very dangerous point where law enforcement has lost all credibility.

When you run law enforcement as business given Officers Money for how many DUI arrest they get soon the officer is looking for money and doesn't care if you are innocent or not. All he cares about is the extra money at the end of the month.

Check address 2616 washington street NE and the House next door is a crockkked COP!!!!! I Raise My Right Hand To That!!!!!!

Overtime! That's why they are doing this but appearing in court is too much work. It's a sad state of affairs in the, so called, law enforcement community.

I’m shocked they are actually reporting it.

Maybe the scrutiny came into play because of giving the finger to DOJ?

Department of Justice needs to send in some investigators of ALL APD! Get rid of the bad apples

They can comment. He won’t because it’s exposing his own corruption.

Why didn't Sam Bregman, the district attorney, notice this as it was happening? I think his people would have noticed it and told him. I don't think his office is crooked, just incompetent.

the fact that there exists a Giglio list is ridiculous...

MADD pays for DWI ARRESTS, not convictions, or even charges.

We should wonder out of the 150 dismissed cases, how many were actually guilty? I could honestly see the officers arresting people, then recommending that lawyer represent them. Then getting paid by the lawyer to call out sick for the trial.

I've heard about this and also with drug arrests the officers get credit for the arrest even though there was charges are dropped they never count those it's a scam too bad for anybody with DUI that hired that lawyer now the game is up

Corruption is policing doesn’t get the attention it deserves. And to see a lawyer involved in the case isn’t surprising either

The amount those officers earned is a major concern. I am guessing that they got paid some commission on busts which is problematic. And opens officers up where they might accept some kickback to further increase their pay.

How did the prosecution team not know about this scam.

😂😅😂Corrupt Cops working with Corrupt Attorney within a Corrupt System 😂😅😂

This is one of the cities I hear absolutely the most in respect to corrupt law enforcement. What is going on there?

20 years ago a friend of mine had 8 DWI's. He only has 1 on his record as officers didn't show up for court. It becomes clear now.

Once again, where are all those good cops I keep hearing about??

Man what a racket, above the law, enforcing law, while taking more taxpayer money to extort the same taxpayers. Rico act anyone?

Abolish qualified immunity!

It’s a possibility the lawyer could have a scam going to offer his dui clients for a certain price these officers will not show up. Officer gets paid lawyer gets paid criminal goes home with no conviction and no other damages

I'm so sick of these sovereign citizen nutjobs who think they don't have to obey the same laws as the rest of society.

Send the criminals to prison! Especially if they are police!

I don't really understand the whole scheme. Are cops making false DWI arrest and then tipping off the attorney to go get those people as clients. The attorney gets paid and kicks some back to the cops?

Great job we love freedom of the press keep the truth in the sunlight I hope all the cases get dismissed and have to return every penny and can’t wait for the civil lawsuit and maybe some of the GO TO JAIL

The"You scratch by back, I'll Scratch yours...for MONEY of course"!

well done...

Very sad and very tragic.

Seems like APD has been on the wrong side of people since they killed that homeless guy a few years back. There was no reason that even happened. They only got worse after that. I would bet nothing even happened to those cops.

Excellent reporting. Thank you.

This is ridiculous. Corruption in plain sight.

Thank you KOB 4 for naming names and informing the public of the malfeasance of our institutions. I also applaud you for allowing comments on your videos unlike Target 7. Nothing worse than an organization that operates under the license of free speech and press, yet then restricts that same opportunity for its viewers. You are much appreciated.

MADD should be ashamed of themselves for honoring these criminals!😮

Let me guess, EVERY DWI case had to have a retainer paid to the attorney. Money collected, cop doesn't show up, case dismissed, split the funds collected????

And there's the problem right there. MADD pays cops a cash reward for the most DUI ARRESTS, not convictions, just arrests. And it doesn't matter if they're false arrests either, ANY arrest for DUI. It incentivizes cops to make false arrests.

The judge, the prosecutor, and the court officials must also have been in on this.

Problem, too, is people may be losing their jobs while these cops don't show up to finish the case, and could be not guilty. It's gross.

The attorney must be splitting retainer fees with the arresting officer.

What the heck is this Paid Administrative Leave deal. Just sickening

Are these cops working on piece work ??? Payed by tickets they wrote ???

Is there a law that the police cannot pervert into making themselves richer?

stripped of certification should be included

Why aren't cops held in contempt of court for missing court? If I do, a warrant is issued for my arrest

That is one corrupt city! Wow

WHOLE STATE CROOKED! COPS, lawyers, judges

After a couple of times different officers don't show up to court now thats suspicious. Ironically a cops favorite words.

Thats crazy I remember watching multiple body cam videos on YT involving APD doing a DWI arrest and the drivers are hammered acting all crazy. At the end of the video they would say all charges were dropped because the officers didn’t show up to court. It’s like that’s literally your job to show up and hold these people accountable and they don’t!! I think one video the lady had hella drugs and a gun and all the charges were dropped because the officer didn’t show up to court..

Blue thin line! Most dangerous gang in the country!!

Actually they did do their Jobs and made the Arrests. What happened was the State is pissed because they didn't get their cut with any of the cash flow. Remember if you're doing anything Illegal just make sure the State and or Government gets their share and they will leave you alone.

Pathetic that they don't press charges and take away their police powers, and put them on the Brady list.

We are NOT SURPRISED.

END QUALIFIED IMMUNITY!!!

Greed Greed Greed the wicked webs we weave for Greed!👺

Hundreds of people driving that willingly endanger the lives of the public. How vile.

CORRUPTION AT THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF LIFE

If a cop can't testify because they are known to lie and have terrible integrity why do they have a job in law enforcement?

End paid administrative leave and qualified immunity...😢

Excellent investigative reporting!

Is the lawyer a public defender or what

How are they earning 6 figures! What is the base and where does the difference come from?

ISN'T HONESTY AN ESSENTIAL JOB FUNCTION OF BEING A POLICE OFFICER? Why are officers who are on a Brady List allowed to remain employed when their testimony is compromised because of credibility issues? The job of a police officer is to collect facts (evidence) and report those facts to the court. Isn't the ability to testify in court an essential job function like the ability to read, write, walk, run, etc.? If an officer suffered a head injury or illness and was no longer able to speak or communicate - they'd be separated from service. Testifying in court is an essential job function - why can officers on a Brady list keep their jobs? Dishonesty should be absolutely disqualifying from employment as a police officer. As Mr. Bregman said, "DWI cases are focused on the testimony of the DWI investigating officer. So, without that testimony, there is no way to continue on with that case." ... "I think in due time people will understand why they were put on that list." They were put on that list because the officer's credibility was successfully challenged. So why are they still collecting a salary and benefits at taxpayer expense when they cannot perform the job's essential functions?

It is nice to know that Albuquerque is a whole lot safer now with these road pirates off the beat.

148,000$ a year? The crook better not be getting paid while he’s on leave! I’ll bet you he has no college, 20 weeks of training an Academy, and that’s it… why we don’t expect more education I’ll never know, they should also carry their own malpractice insurance so that when they get in trouble, they really get in trouble, and can no longer be a cop none of those bail out by the city

Wreaks of corruption

Imagine how many guilty drivers have/will go on to drive drunk, resulting in accidents ta that maime / kill many innocent people!!! The only thing worse than falsely arresting a driver for an alleged DUI, is allowing obviously guilty drunk drivers to keep driving!

An officer not appearing for court, after it's confirmed that a subpoena was issued, can have a show cause issued on them. Basically, the judge and/or the district attorney orders the officer to tell why he did not appear. If the reason for their absence is not reasonable, then the officer can be charged with several things like contempt of court, etc... One of the worst things to do as a law enforcement officer is not to show up to court. The charges can, and most of the time, will be dismissed no matter what the defendant was charged for. The Constitution guarantees anyone charged with a crime in America the right to face their accuser. If no accuser is present then the case is dismissed.

So was the attorney paying these officers to not show up to court?

Does this department have 1 good cop?