The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is undergoing significant changes following an internal investigation into corruption within its DWI unit.
The highest-ranking officer involved in the probe, Cmdr. Mark Landavazo, has been terminated, and another officer, Neill Elsman, has resigned.
Cmdr. Landavazo, who had been with the APD since 2007 and served in the DWI unit from 2008 to 2013, was placed on administrative leave and under investigation since February 13.
Internal emails revealed that in June 2022, the FBI tipped off Landavazo about an officer allegedly collaborating with attorney Thomas Clear III to dismiss a DWI charge in exchange for $10,000.
According to the source, instead of reporting this to the police chief, Landavazo suggested contacting the Civilian Police Oversight Agency.
APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos announced Landavazo’s termination, citing violations of three policies.
Although specific violations were not detailed, Gallegos mentioned Landavazo had been disciplined for two and fired after the third investigation.
APD Chief Harold Medina emphasized their commitment to thorough investigations, stating, “We will continue to follow the evidence and ensure everyone is held accountable.”
In addition to Landavazo’s termination, a seventh officer, Neill Elsman, resigned.
Elsman, who had been on military leave since October and with APD since April 2014, resigned on July 30 after being asked to return to duty.
Despite his resignation, Elsman is still expected to participate in a voluntary interview.
The federal investigation into these allegations is ongoing. The case gained public attention on January 18 when FBI agents raided the homes of several officers and Attorney Clear’s office.
Following these developments, Chief Medina appointed Cmdr. Kyle Hartsock of the Criminal Investigations Division will lead the internal investigation.
This investigation aims to uncover whether any other department members were aware of the wrongdoing but failed to report it.
So far, six other officers have resigned: Justin Hunt, Honorio Alba, Joshua Montaño, Harvey Johnson, Nelson Ortiz, and Daren DeAguero. A seventh officer, Matthew Trahan, was placed on leave and investigated in May.
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An eighth officer, a lieutenant in the Internal Affairs Division, was transferred to another division while under investigation.
The completed internal investigation will be submitted to the Superintendent of Police Reform, ensuring comprehensive oversight and accountability within the department.