200 APD cops investigated in 2011

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - APD has taken some serious public relations hits over the past few years; from dirty cops to a wave of shootings. Now,  more than 200 APD employees, most of them cops, were investigated last year for misconduct; for everything ranging from bad attitudes to criminal behavior.

More than a thousand cops roamed Albuquerque streets in 2011, another 500 civilians worked behind the scenes. Out of that staff, 218 employees were investigated by the department's internal affairs and the Chief says most of them were police officers.

“It could be anything from an officer not showing up to court or some type of case setting, not properly tagging evidence, being involved in an accident in which officers are found to have violated the law,” said Police Chief Ray Schultz.

It could have been criminal; like in the case of April Sanchez, who keyed her ex's car after driving drunk to his house, or Matt Kindle, who tried to bribe a hooker for sex.

Schultz says almost all of the investigations last year led to discipline.

“Discipline is probably a little stricter then it had been many, many years ago,” Schultz said.

Fifty one workers were suspended, 11 fired and seven quit before they could be fired.

Thirty one employees were investigated multiple times last year for their conduct.

“It could be that the officer missed court two or three times so the officer would be flagged as part of our early intervention system as having multiple cases,” said Schultz.

The discipline doesn't end with the Chief.

“The cases are also sent to the law enforcement academy board in Santa Fe,” said Schultz.

Case and point, Dennis Barela, who was suspended for a week and demoted for playing a genitalia slapping game with officers and for having sex while on duty. The state's LEA board didn't think the chief's punishment was tough enough and suspended him for four months.

The chief says last years numbers are normal but, “218 employees investigate, 191 disciplined. Out of 600,000 almost calls, not bad. Is it great? It's not great either.”

The chief says the number one complaint they get from the public about officers is that they're mean or have a bad attitude. The chief says attitude had become a bigger priority now when recruits are going through the academy.