Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina addresses FBI investigation (2024)

QUESTIONS TO ASK ABOUT THE ALLEGED OFFICERS. I UNDERSTAND THE FRUSTRATION OF THE COMMUNITY. I UNDERSTAND FRUSTRATIONS OF INDIVIDUALS THROUGHOUT THE COMMUNITY. ALBUQUERQUE POLICE CHIEF HAROLD MEDINA, ADDRESSING A SERIES OF QUESTIONS FOLLOWING A FEDERAL INVESTIGATION INTO APD’S DWI UNIT. HOW DID A GROUP OF OFFICERS NOT SHOW UP TO COURT 29 TIMES FOR THE SAME ATTORNEY, CAUSING CASES TO BE DISMISSED IN THE NEAR FUTURE? THAT IS PART OF WHAT WE HAVE TO CORRECT OUT OF RESPECT FOR THE OTHER ENTITIES INVOLVED IN THIS. I THINK THAT WE ARE AT A TIME GOING TO HAVE TO ALL COME TOGETHER TO TALK ABOUT HOW THIS HAPPENED AND HOW WE ARE CORRECTING THIS IN THE FUTURE. MANY QUESTIONS STILL LEFT UNANSWERED FOR HOMES OF APD. OFFICERS RAIDED IN A PROMINENT DWI ATTORNEY WHOSE FRONT DOOR WAS BARRED WHEN WE PAID A VISIT ON FRIDAY, HAVING TO DISMISS APPROXIMATELY 150 DWI CASES MADE ME SICK TO MY STOMACH. BUT I HAD NO CHOICE. UM, MY ETHICS AS A PROSECUTOR REQUIRED ME TO DISMISS THOSE CASES. JUST THIS WEEK, THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY DISMISSED 159 PENDING DWI CASES INVOLVING THE OFFICERS BEING INVESTIGATED. FIVE TOTAL OFFICERS ARE NOW ON ADMINISTRATIVE LEAVE OR HAVE BEEN REASSIGNED, AND A TARGET 7 INVESTIGATION REVEALED THAT SINCE 2019, THE GROUP OF FIVE OFFICERS DID NOT SHOW UP TO COURT 29 TIMES ON CASES INVOLVING THE ATTORNEY, THE FBI IS INVESTIGATING. DID YOU GUYS EVEN NOTICE AND NOT TAKE ANY ACTION? OR DID YOU GUYS TAKE I CAN TELL YOU THIS MUCH EVERY SINGLE MISSED COURT NOTICE THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT HAS RECEIVED AND HAS AN INVESTIGATION ACCOMPANYING IT. EVERY TIME WE RECEIVE NOTICE, WE LOOK INTO IT. MEDINA TELLING US THEY FINALLY GOT ACCESS TO A COURT SYSTEM THAT ALLOWS THEM TO KNOW WHEN OFFICERS DO NOT SHOW UP. WE JUST IN THE LAST TWO WEEKS, FINALLY GOT ACCESS TO THE COURT SYSTEM WHERE WE COULD START EASILY LOOKING UP MISSED COURT NOTICES OURSELVES AND TAKE MORE RESPONSIVE ABILITY. FOR THIS, WE HAD SOME NOTIFICATIONS, BUT WE DIDN’T HAVE COMPLETE NOTIFICATIONS OF WHEN OFFICERS WERE SHOWING UP. THERE WERE CERTAIN CASES THEY WERE WE WERE GETTING NOTIFICATION. THER

Advertisem*nt

Albuquerque Police Chief Harold Medina addresses FBI investigation

"We just, in the last two weeks, finally got access to the court system where we can start easily looking up missed court notices ourselves and take more responsibility for that," APD Chief Medina said

Faith Egbuonu

Reporter

Video above: Albuquerque Police Department Chief Harold Medina addressed allegations involving APD's DWI unit on Thursday, Jan. 25. KOAT asked the chief questions regarding alleged officers involved as well as court dismissals in connection to the federal investigation. Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court's response to Medina's explanation is below.Related: Target 7: Albuquerque officers being investigated had no shown up to court KOAT confirmed four homes of Albuquerque police officers were raided, including an attorney's office, during an FBI investigation on Thursday, Jan. 18. KOAT has not mentioned names allegedly involved in the case because charges have not been filed.MORE: Former U.S. Attorney discusses federal investigation into Albuquerque Police and attorneyChief Medina stated more information involving the investigation is expected to be released on Friday or Monday. The date was not specified.Albuquerque police federal investigation stories on KOAT.comFederal police presence at home owned by Albuquerque police officer'This is going to be a stain on the police department': Law enforcement expert reacts to FBI raidFBI Investigation could affect appeals of DWI cases'I had no choice but to do this' Bernalillo County District Attorney speaks on dismissed DWI casesAlbuquerque Police officers' homes raided in FBI investigationMayor Tim Keller responds to accusations of withholding APD FBI investigation BCSO sheriff condemns Albuquerque mayor's comments on FBI investigationFrustrations over DWI cases being dropped by DA's officeTarget 7: A look at 159 DWI cases dismissed amid federal investigation Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court responds to APD Chief Medina "Being that it is not the Court's responsibility to get witnesses to hearings, Metro Court does not currently have a system in place to notify law enforcement of officers' attendance in court. However, just this week, the Metropolitan Court was asked by local law enforcement to develop such a system as a courtesy. It's important to remember that most court records are public records in which specific dismissal information, if applicable, can be found through various resources such as through the court’s website or by visiting the courthouse. Realizing that officers are often scheduled in multiple courtrooms at once, the Metropolitan Court continues to utilize its “Officer Check-In System,” which the court developed in 2007. Through it, officers can “check-in” at one of the court’s kiosks as they enter the courthouse or check in online if appearing for a virtual hearing. Judges, staff, and attorneys are then able to use the system to see, in real time, if an officer has checked in and in which courtrooms an officer is scheduled to appear. Law enforcement court services liaisons are able to update the system from outside of the courthouse to notify judges and courtroom staff if, for example, an officer is running late or ill. Metro Court is one of only a handful of courts in the country with this technology." — Camille Baca, public information officer for Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 NewsThis is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.Stay updated on the latest local news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. —

Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court responds to APD Chief Medina

"Being that it is not the Court's responsibility to get witnesses to hearings, Metro Court does not currently have a system in place to notify law enforcement of officers' attendance in court. However, just this week, the Metropolitan Court was asked by local law enforcement to develop such a system as a courtesy. It's important to remember that most court records are public records in which specific dismissal information, if applicable, can be found through various resources such as through the court’s website or by visiting the courthouse.

Realizing that officers are often scheduled in multiple courtrooms at once, the Metropolitan Court continues to utilize its “Officer Check-In System,” which the court developed in 2007. Through it, officers can “check-in” at one of the court’s kiosks as they enter the courthouse or check in online if appearing for a virtual hearing. Judges, staff, and attorneys are then able to use the system to see, in real time, if an officer has checked in and in which courtrooms an officer is scheduled to appear. Law enforcement court services liaisons are able to update the system from outside of the courthouse to notify judges and courtroom staff if, for example, an officer is running late or ill. Metro Court is one of only a handful of courts in the country with this technology." — Camille Baca, public information officer for Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.

Stay up-to-date: The latest headlines from KOAT Action 7 News

This is a developing story and will be updated as information becomes available.

Stay updated on the latest local news with the KOAT app. You can download it here.