As the Albuquerque Police Department investigates wrong-doing by its DWI officers the probe has expanded to include the commander of Internal Affairs.
Cmdr. Mark Landavazo has been put on administrative leave, the department announced Tuesday evening.
“We are investigating every aspect of these allegations, from the role of officers to supervisors,” Chief Harold Medina said in a statement.
Gilbert Gallegos, an APD spokesman, said Landavazo had been with the department since 2007 and was with the DWI unit from 2008 to 2013. He said he became the commander of the Internal Affairs-Professional Services Standards Division in the beginning of 2022.
The FBI investigation into the DWI officers and attorney Thomas Clear came to light last month after agents searched the officers homes and the attorney’s office.
The Second Judicial District Attorney’s Office has since dismissed almost 200 cases because the arresting officers—Honorio Alba, Joshua Montano, Harvey Johnson, and Nelson Ortiz—have credibility issues. No one has been charged or formally accused.
After the FBI investigation became public, APD put the four officers, and Lt. Justin Hunt on administrative leave. Hunt resigned last week.
A commander in the Criminal Investigations Division is leading the internal investigation, along with two deputy commanders, and said it will focus on holding everyone accountable who was involved in the scheme or knew about it but didn’t report it.