Well paid cop's wife may be on welfare

ALBUQUERQUE (KRQE) - After details came out on a controversial cop's arrest for roughing up his wife and stealing her money and EBT card, KRQE News 13 viewers wanted to know why a well-paid officer's wife would be on government assistance.

State workers say it might sound strange, but there may be a good reason for Filiberto "Joey" Sigala's wife to have an Electronic Benefits Transfer card even though he took home more than $80,000 last year.

Sigala made $56,000 as an officer and another $26,000 as union president, according to the Albuquerque Police Department. State Police are investigating to see if he may have paid himself even more than that from union dues, and paid his wife $6,000 for union work.

Sigala resigned as president of the Albuquerque Police Officers Association during a controversy over a long-standing policy of making payments to officers involved in shootings.

But on Wednesday, Sigala was arrested for another reason: a domestic violence charge. APD officers alleged he stormed into a home in northwest Albuquerque, grabbed his wife's cash and EBT card and then hit her in the face.

So why would she be on government assistance if he took home more than 80 grand last year? While a state spokesman said he couldn't comment on specific cases, he did say if a couple is living in different dwellings, they can apply for benefits.

"If a couple is separated and living in individual households, a woman or a man, depending on their income, could qualify for public assistance benefits, spokesman Matt Kennicott of the Human Services Department said. "It's not too unusual."

APD confirmed Joey Sigala was living at a home in Rio Rancho. His wife was living at a home in northwest Albuquerque where the alleged fight took place.

According to the state, 550,000 New Mexicans are on government assistance.