Bosque Farms cop arrested

LOS LUNAS, N.M.. (KRQE) -  A Bosque Farms police officer shot in the line of duty while working for another department was arrested after a minor traffic crash Tuesday suspected of driving under the influence possibly of pain medications.

According to witnesses Office Paul Gomez was headed north on State Road 6 in Los Lunas when he drove into the car in front of him. He then tried to drive around the car but was stopped by bystanders who called police.

Bosque Farms Police Chief Joe Stidham told KRQE News 13 that Officer Paul Gomez was arrested about 3:30 p.m. in Los Lunas while driving his personal vehicle. He has since been placed on paid administrative leave, Stidham said.

"When we hired him we had full medical clearances and legal clearances from our attorney," Stidham said. "Doctors did allow Gomez to take pain medication under certain parameters which included not taking them while on duty."

Gomez worked for the Los Lunas Police Department for more than a decade and was shot by another officer during a call. The shooting shattered a leg bone resulting in numerous surgeries and constant pain, according to reports.

After the shooting Gomez left the Los Lunas department and joined the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department. He resigned that position in 2008 after being stopped for driving under the influence in his county patrol unit in Los Lunas.

Gomez's 13-year-old daughter was with him at the time.

Gomez has been with the Bosque Farms department for about eight months.