ALBUQUERQUE –
The Albuquerque Police Department (APD) has announced the resignation of a fourth officer amidst an ongoing administrative investigation into alleged misconduct in the department’s DWI Unit. Nelson Ortiz tendered his resignation on Thursday, March 14, 2024. Investigators had been planning an interview with Ortiz who decided to step down instead.
Ortiz has been with APD since Jan 2016, serving in the DWI Unit from 2018 to 2021 before moving to the Motors Unit in 2021. The investigation into the alleged misconduct by current and former officers of the DWI Unit was initiated by APD in January 2024. They had informed five officers about being investigation’s subjects.
Apart from Ortiz, the other three officers who have left their positions during the probe are:
– Justin Hunt, who had been with APD since 2000 and resigned on Feb. 7, 2024.
– Honorio Alba, a member of APD since 2014, who left his post on Feb. 29, 2024.
– Harvey Johnson, also with the department since 2014, resigned on March 13, 2024.
The internal investigation led by APD continues. According to findings so far, officer Josh Montano is the only officer who has not resigned or been terminated. The FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office are still conducting a separate probe but have yet to disclose any detailed information regarding warrants served during early-January 2024 raids on homes of five APD officers, attorney Tom Clear, and paralegal Rick Mendez.
It’s crucial to note that none of the parties involved in the case have been formally charged yet.
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