NM honors 'Officer of the Year'

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - New Mexico Law Enforcement Officers honored one of their own Thursday night.

The New Mexico Sheriff’s and Police Association named Albuquerque detective Ida Lopez “Officer of the Year.”

Detective Lopez is a lead investigator in one of the biggest cases to ever hit New Mexico.

As part of the missing persons department, she has headed the hunt for the killer who buried the bodies of 11 women on the West Mesa.

It is a case she has worked on for more than two years.

“Regardless of where their lives led them to, none of them deserved it and we hope and pray for the right tip to give the families resolution I will not stop working this case until we get to that point,” Lopez said.

Lopez has been with the Albuquerque Police Department for 16 years.