List of cops in trouble lengthens

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - The newly released list of peace officers facing disciplinary action from around the state is longer than first reported and includes three men from the Albuquerque Public Schools Police Department.

Two weeks ago the Attorney General's Office said 90 or so police officers had disciplinary cases pending in front of the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board.

The full list released to KRQE News 13 , however, shows 115 officers waiting for hearings before the board.

Among them are three fired APS officers: Joe Gonzales, Arthur Limón and Chris Pargas.

The documents don't say what they did to get in trouble because they haven't been notified.

A surprised Chris Pargas said he found out about the pending case on Friday when he read his name in the newspaper.

Pargas, a sergeant at the time, was fired along with Limón after an incident at Atrisco Heritage High School in Nov. 2010.

A student and his parent's complained Limón used excessive force when he pushed the student to the ground and handcuffed him.

Limón never faced charges but was fired, while Pargas, as Limón's supervisor, was fired for failure to supervise.

Pargas claimed his firing was in retaliation for his work as the union's president.

He still is waiting for his appeal hearing in front of the APS Board of Education.

Now he'll also wait to face the LEA board, which can dispense discipline up to revoking his certification as a peace officer.

Pargas told KRQE News 13 he's not worried and looks forward to explaining his side to the state. He's also hired an attorney and said he plans to sue APS.

APS declined to comment on the case on Friday and also wouldn't say why Gonzales was fired.

Meanwhile the Albuquerque Police Department has the most LEA cases in limbo with 30 of them.

They include the case against Levi Chavez who was fired in April after he was charged with murdering his wife .

There's also Matt Kindle, who was fired in September after he was caught on a hidden camera soliciting a prostitute.

Both Chavez and Kindle have denied the charges against them and are awaiting trial.

Also on the list is ex-APD Officer Pete Dwyer, who was fired for making what were deemed to be inappropriate jokes online about Muslims, the Nazi flag and pistol whipping people.

All three are still certified to be officers in New Mexico.

The LEA board has been critical of Attorney general Gary King blaming him and his staff for the backlog in unresolved cases.

King, who chairs the LEA board, has said problems with the cases themselves contributed to the delays in resolving them.

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