NM State Police continues investigation of Alamogordo officer

ALAMOGORDO – While New Mexico State Police (NMSP) continues their investigation of an alleged incident involving an Alamogordo Police Department (APD) off-duty officer at Gerald Champion Regional Medical on Sunday, Sept. 23, APD continues their own internal administrative investigation into the incident, according to an APD press release.

According to the release, APD opened their own investigation of the incident on Thursday, Sept. 25, in conjunction with the ongoing NMSP investigation.

Pursuant to APD’s standard operating procedures, the incident was turned over to NMSP for investigation, the release states.

The officer who was involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of NMSP and APD’s investigations, the release states.

Pending the conclusion of the State Police investigation, the city of Alamogordo has no further comment at this time, the release stated.

In an email to the Daily News, NMSP spokeswoman Lt. Elizabeth Armijo wrote no charges have been filed against the officer.

State Police has conferred with the district attorney’s office and at this time the investigation is ongoing, and no charges have been filed, Armijo wrote in the email.

She also stated upon completion of NMSP’s investigation, the case will be forwarded to the district attorney’s office.

“We can’t discuss personnel matters,” said APD Deputy Chief Michael Lawrence.

According to sources and witnesses at GCRMC at the time of the incident who wish to remain anonymous stated the officer was at the hospital when a situation escalated and required the intervention of law enforcement officers.

The officer was there with his family and the problem magnified through the family, according to anonymous sources and witnesses.

According to APD’s release, the Alamogordo Police Department takes all allegations of officer misconduct very seriously.

While it is the intent of APD to maintain transparency at all times as to ensure public trust, we must respectfully ask for the continued patience of the general public as this is an ongoing investigation, the release states.