New Mexico, sadly, has its share of corruption

[Basil]

I can''t put into words (in polite company) how angry this makes me.

This Albuquerque DWI corruption scandal is one of the most extensive law enforcement corruption investigations in US history. It involves police officers, sheriff's deputies, a state police officer, prominent defense attorneys, and a paralegal who participated in or have been implicated in a scheme to make drunk-driving cases disappear in exchange for money and other benefits. Believe it or not, the operation began around 1995 and continued for nearly 30 years before the FBI investigation exposed it.

Here's how the operation worked:

1. A police officer arrested someone for DWI.
2. The arrested individual was directed toward Albuquerque defense attorney Thomas Clear III or his associates.
3. The defendant paid substantial legal fees, sometimes thousands of dollars, with part of the money going to corrupt officers.
4. The arresting officer deliberately failed to appear at a required court hearing, withheld evidence, or neglected necessary paperwork.
5. Without the arresting officer's testimony or evidence, prosecutors often had little choice but to dismiss the DWI charges.
6. The arrangement became so established that some participating officers reportedly recruited other officers and helped expand the operation.

In certain cases, investigators discovered something even more disturbing: people were allegedly encouraged to become intoxicated and then targeted for DWI arrests, creating opportunities to extract money from them.

5.6K views · 85 reactions | A second former BCSO deputy was charged federally in the #DWICorruption scheme this week. So far, 14 people have been charged in the criminal enterprise. None have been sentenced. So where do all the criminal cases stand t

A second former BCSO deputy was charged federally in the #DWICorruption scheme this week. So far, 14 people have been charged in the criminal enterprise. None have been sentenced. So where do all the...

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[JPSmit]

No words

 

[Gliderman8]

No words

I’ll drink to that.

 

[Low'n slow]

I was glad to get out of there.
Unfortunately, there seems to be no escape these days.

 

[waltesefalcon]

This kind of thing, unfortunately, happens nationwide. The revenue that municipalities and counties gather from tickets creates a system which encourages police corruption.

 

[Basil]

This kind of thing, unfortunately, happens nationwide. The revenue that municipalities and counties gather from tickets creates a system which encourages police corruption.

Reminds me of a movie from the 1970s. Ever see Serpico?

 

[mikephillips]

Glad my dad isn't around to see this, he spent 25 years as an assistant prosecutor here in OH outside his law practice and would not have stood for that sort of thing.

 

[waltesefalcon]

Reminds me of a movie from the 1970s. Ever see Serpico?

I wasn't as shocked at the ending of that one as the real Serpico was when he saw it in the theater.

 

[AngliaGT]

And here I was thinking all politicians were honest.

 

[Pat MM]

And here I was thinking all politicians were honest.

And they never make promises they can’t keep…