A2 Police Abuse/Info
New Mexico/Police Names
NAMES (Last Name Letter) A1 A2 B1 B2 B3 C1 C2 C3 D1 D2 E F G1 G2 H1 H2 IJK
L M1 M2 M3 N O P QR S T W UVXYZ
LIST A1 Ackerman-Anders A2 Armijo to Avila (here) -- Click on names below for summaries below this list
Armijo Anthony/Espanola Armijo Ernest (Chris)/Vaughn Armijo Leonard/Bernalillo Arredondo David/Deming Artis Jeremy/Hobbs
Atencio Cory/Espanola Avila Greg/Albuquerque
A SECTION, Tables and Related Information
Table A1-A2 Table all names of New Mexico police on this website: https://policefactor.com/NMPolNames.html1
See also Victim Incidents/Cases Police - Blue Lives Matter Locations by City and Names A to Z Indexes
SUMMARIES A2: BRIEF EXCERPTS/SOURCES NEW MEXICO POLICE
Armijo Anthony Espanola/Previous Rio Arriba Co, Espanola PD/Officer-former Rio Arriba County Sheriff’s Deputy,Hit
Pedestrian-Officer Armijo found Not Guilty-possible police brutality w/Greg Esparza seems cleared-Spat w/Cory Atencio-
internal affairs investigation-See Greg Esparza/Cory Atencio, 2016/11/22 Rosalia Martinez hit by officer’s car sues
city/police dept.-,Rio Grande Sun-2017/02/20-2017/02/09
November 22, 2016 pedestrian hit incident on Paseo de Onate
Watch for Antics Possible suspicious private Investigation into Greg Esparza with Armijo present at incident
Articles
Rio Grande Sun
November 22, 2016 incident on Paseo de Onate
2017/02/20 Woman hit by officer sues city, police department. By Jennifer Garcia.
02/20/2017--http //www riograndesun com/news/woman-hit-by-officer-sues-city-police-
department/article_794a7aae-f783-11e6-9caa-9f84a71bad92 html
Incident involving Rosalia Martinez: Excerpt: A woman injured after being hit by an Española Police
officer’s vehicle while crossing the street, is suing the Española Police Department. Attorney
Kimberly Brusuelas, of the Fifth Street Law Offices in Albuquerque, sent a letter addressed to the
Española Police Department Administration, dated Jan. 12, giving them notice of a tort claim and
demanding evidence be preserved.
Paralegal Courtney Johnson of Fifth Street Law Offices said Brusuelas helped Rosalia Martinez file
the initial notice and demand, but is not representing her.On Jan. 23, Santa Fe-based Attorney Peter
Culbert sent a notice to Mayor Alice Lucero, informing her that Martinez was giving notice to the city
that she was filing a tort claim, after the Nov. 22 incident on Paseo de Oñate, involving Officer
Anthony Armijo…He said Armijo saw the couple, who was hesitating to cross the road, and he went
left, to avoid striking them directly, as they crossed. As a result, Armijo collided with the center
median and a tree, but not before clipping the woman with the passenger side mirror of his Ford
Expedition.
02/20/2017--http://www.riograndesun.com/news/woman-hit-by-officer-sues-city-police-
department/article_794a7aae-f783-11e6-9caa-9f84a71bad92.html
2017/02/09 Investigation clears city officer [Greg Esparza]
02/09/2017--http://www.riograndesun.com/news/cops_courts/investigation-clears-city-
officer/article_481827d4-eee5-11e6-b557-b3bb841ab3dd.html
Issue involving Greg Esparza: Excerpt from photo area: Española Police Officer Greg Esparza throws
Virginia Valdez to the ground, June 6, in a still shot taken from Officer Anthony Armijo’s lapel video
camera. Valdez, driving her van, was accused, by Armijo, of stealing it, following a shoplifting incident
involving her relatives. While Valdez screamed that she could not get on her knees, Esparza
approached and threw her to the ground.
Issue involving Cory Atencio: Excerpt: However, the contract for the internal affairs investigation into
the spat between officers Cory Atencio and Anthony Armijo cost $4,292, including Gross Receipts Tax
and expenses.
(2016/11/14) Shots fired during car chase
From Rio Grande Sun 11/14/2016: Former Rio Arriba County Sheriff's deputy and current Española
Police Officer Anthony Armijo fired shots at a vehicle on Saturday, after a chase ensued. New Mexico
State Police are investigating the incident
2016/11/14--http://www.riograndesun.com/news/cops_courts/shots-fired-during-car-
chase/article_d3e5eb96-aa81-11e6-9407-d35772c3b8e4.html
Armijo Ernest (Chris), Vaughn, Vaughn PD/Police Chief, (2012) Multiple Issues, Felony conviction in Texas.
Our Tax Dollars At Work-2012/09/27; New York Daily News-2012/09/27
Articles
Our Tax Dollars At Work
2012/09/27 Vaughn New Mexico’s Police Force Has One Certified Police Officer – A Drug Sniffing Dog –
Police Chief Ernest “Chris” Armijo Quits After News Stories About His Not Being Able To Carry A Gun
Because Of Criminal Background – Owes Tens Of Thousands In Child Support And Faces New Felony
Charges
https://ourtaxdollarsatwork.wordpress.com/?s=ernest+armijo
Excerpt from Our Tax Dollars at Work: The police chief of the small eastern New Mexico town of
Vaughn resigned Wednesday, leaving the town with just one certified member on its police force — a
drug-sniffing dog named Nikka. Dave Romero, attorney for the town, said Wednesday that police
Chief Ernest “Chris” Armijo decided to step down after news stories reported that he wasn’t allowed
to carry a gun because of his criminal background. “He decided the attention was distracting,”
Romero said. State officials said Armijo couldn’t carry a gun since acknowledging that he owed tens
of thousands of dollars in delinquent child support payments in Texas. Armijo also faces new felony
charges after being accused of selling a town-owned rifle and pocketing the cash. Romero said
Armijo is working to clear up the latest case. He said Armijo has not ruled out seeking the police
chief’s position again if his case is resolved and the position is open.
https://ourtaxdollarsatwork.wordpress.com/?s=ernest+armijo
New York Daily News
2012/09/27 With Vaughn, New Mexico, police chief out over his past conviction, only cop with CLEAN
record is the drug-sniffing DOG!. By Victoria Cavaliere
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/top-dog-new-mexico-town-officer-drug-sniffing-pooch-
named-nikka-article-1.1169639
Excerpt: Meantime, Chief Armijo hadn't been able to carry a firearm since pleading guilty in January
to failing to pay thousands of dollars in child support in Texas, a felony in that state.
"The law is very clear. You cannot be a convicted felon and be a police officer in New Mexico," said
Gordon Eden, cabinet secretary for the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
The town got Armijo a Taser, but the embattled chief has also been fighting allegations of selling a
town-owned rifle and of using drug evidence to "train" Nikka.
http://www.nydailynews.com/news/national/top-dog-new-mexico-town-officer-drug-sniffing-pooch-
named-nikka-article-1.1169639
Armijo Leonard, Bernalillo County Sheriff's Dept/Deputy-Sheriff,. 2017/12/05-Lawsuit involving ACLU
Articles
KOAT
2018/10/04-Sheriff's deputies leaving in droves for APD
https://www.koat.com/article/sheriffs-deputies-leaving-in-droves-for-apd/23603523
Arredondo David, Deming, HCSO Hidalgo Sheriffs Office/Deputy, Search Illegal Probe, Victim David Eckert
Case decided 2016, Caselaw 2016/09/14; Huffington Post-2013/11/05
Watch for Antics Strange contexts around the probing issues in general, ACLU often if not always involved in
these lawsuits
Case(s)
Caselaw
2016/09/14--Decided. No. 15-2204 10th Circuit Court of Appeals
David Eckert, Plaintiff-Appellant, v. Deputy District Attorney Daniel Dougherty, Defendant-Appellee, City of
Deming; Bobby Orosco; Robert Chavez; Officer Hernandez; Hidalgo County; Hildalgo County Sheriff Officers
David Arredondo, Robert Rodriguez, Patrick Green; Gila Regional Medical Center; Robert Wilcox, M.D.; Okay
Odocha, M.D., Defendants.
http://caselaw.findlaw.com/us-10th-circuit/1748339.html
Articles
Huffington Post
2013/11/05 David Eckert Enema Colonoscopy drugs traffic stop
https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2013/11/05/david-eckert-enema-colonoscopy-drugs-traffic-
stop_n_4218320.html
Artis Jeremy, Hobbs, Hobbs PD/Officer, this officer was one of three who filed lawsuit against Hobbs PD over racial
discrimination and retaliation in 2017. See also Ellis, Robinson, 2017/10/05 Case Ellis et al v. Hobbs Police Department et al;
Hobbs News-2017/10/11
Case(s)
2017/10/05 Case Ellis et al v. Hobbs Police Department et al 2:2017cv01011 ...
https://dockets.justia.com/docket/new-mexico/nmdce/2:2017cv01011/373633
Brandon Ellis, Jeremy Artis and Vasshawn Robinson Defendant: Hobbs Police Department, Jason Herrera,
Chad Wright, Shane Blevins, Jeremy Kirk, Matthew Burleson, Jimmy Grimes, Christopher McCall and J.J.
Murphy
Articles
Hobbs News
2017/10/11 Hobbs News Ex Officers file lawsuit
https://www.hobbsnews.com/2017/10/11/ex-officers-file-lawsuit-hpd/
Excerpt: A federal lawsuit filed last week by three former Hobbs Police Department officers alleges
racial discrimination and retaliation within the agency and that they were encouraged to target
people of color to make quotas. The 21-page lawsuit, filed Oct. 5 in Albuquerque, on behalf of African-
American officers Brandon Ellis and Vasshawn Robinson, as well as Caucasian officer Jeremy Artis,
seeks actual and special damages, along with punitive damages against a number of defendants
from the City of Hobbs and Hobbs Police Department based on violations of the New Mexico Whistle
Blower Protection Act, Equal Protection Clause and First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution.
“During the time HPD employed the plaintiffs, each plaintiff police officer witnessed and endured
racial discrimination and attempted to report it,” the lawsuit states. “Each plaintiff endured
subsequent retaliatory actions for reporting racial discrimination and for associating with one
another.” It further alleges those actions led the officers to seek employment elsewhere, but
individuals with Hobbs police “ensured” they wouldn’t be hired. All three plaintiffs are currently
employed with the Lea County Sheriff’s Office where they earn $6 less an hour, according to
Albuquerque civil rights attorney Shannon
https://www.hobbsnews.com/2017/10/11/ex-officers-file-lawsuit-hpd/
Related Issue
LCSUN News
2020/03/01 Racial discrimination claims against Hobbs Police draw unexpected rebuttal. By Jeff
Proctor
https://www.lcsun-news.com/story/news/2020/03/01/racial-discrimination-claims-against-hobbs-nm-
police/4910732002/
Other Articles
https://apnews.com/18f587905f8244e08fd4918ea30e014c/Lawsuit:-Department-made-police-officers-
target-minorities
KRQE
2017-Former Hobbs officers sue HPD for racial discrimination. By Jackie Kent.
https://www.krqe.com/news/former-hobbs-officers-sue-hpd-for-racial-discrimination/
Atencio Cory, Espanola, Espanola PD/Officer, Lewd, behind the scenes language and racial slurs shows cynicism. (See
Anthony Armijo and Jason Gallegos). $4292 cost of contract for internal affairs investigation spat between Atencio and
Anthony Armijo.
Articles
Rio Grande Sun
2017/02/20 Woman hit by officer sues city, police department. By Jennifer Garcia.
02/20/2017--http://www.riograndesun.com/news/woman-hit-by-officer-sues-city-police-
department/article_794a7aae-f783-11e6-9caa-9f84a71bad92.html
Excerpt: However, the contract for the internal affairs investigation into the spat between officers Cory
Atencio and Anthony Armijo cost $4,292, including Gross Receipts Tax and expenses.
02/20/2017--http://www.riograndesun.com/news/woman-hit-by-officer-sues-city-police-
department/article_794a7aae-f783-11e6-9caa-9f84a71bad92.html
2018/03/01 Officer Rehired [Jason Gallegos] despite colleagues protestations-letter. Wheeler Cowperthwaite
http://www.riograndesun.com/news/officer-rehired-despite-colleagues-protestations-
letter/article_b897fc56-1d7d-11e8-933c-e3a9fc1a38a6.html
Excerpt: After the shift briefing, everyone left the room, except for Gallegos and Officers Anthony Armijo
and Cory Atencio. Atencio then begins to read a text message from an unknown woman about going to a
party with a football player from the University of New Mexico. “Officer Atencio shouts vulgar slurs while
Sgt. Gallegos simulates a sexual act,” Romero wrote. According to the video, Atencio discusses how she is
going to be “all over those (racial expletive).”
http://www.riograndesun.com/news/officer-rehired-despite-colleagues-protestations-
letter/article_b897fc56-1d7d-11e8-933c-e3a9fc1a38a6.html
Avila Greg Albuquerque, APD/Officer Under Cover, Older material - See Real Crimes. Intoxicated, Unruly. Deceased
08/24/2015 Was in connection with other officer Hearn, suspect Frank Minott and others, attacking women, cat, high
alcohol level. Deceased 2015/08/24 Real Crimes 1981/09;
Articles
Real Crimes
http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com/corruption%20overview.htm
http://www.realcrimes.com/Corruption_Overview.htm
Excerpt from Real Crimes. Also seen on Kait Arquette: 9/81: APD undercover officers, John Hearn and Greg
Avila, were working a suspected vehicle theft ring when they got into a shootout with one of the suspects,
Frank Minott. Minott testified that he shot at Officer Avila in self-defense after Avila fired at him. Officer
Avila’s blood alcohol level was three times higher than the legal requirement for intoxication. A female
witness testified that Avila tried to force his way into her bedroom, tried to grope another girl present, and
tried to stab a cat with a pitchfork, saying he “was hungry.” Minott testified that he told Avila to stop
hurting the women and Avila said, “What are you going to do about it?”, Minott pushed Avila away, and
Avila pulled a knife. Then Hearn got involved, and Minott said he feared that Hearn would hold him down
while Avila cut him, so he ran to the house and Avila fired a gun at him. Minott got to a gun and fired back
at Avila, wounding him twice. Minott was found guilty of assault with intent to commit a violent felony.
Chief Whitey Hansen told the press (in regard to the actions of the two officers), “When you’re in Rome, you
do as the Romans do.” He said there are no guidelines or rules for undercover officers,
http://kaitarquette.arquettes.com/corruption%20overview.htm
http://www.realcrimes.com/Corruption_Overview.htm
Newspapers - Santa Fe New Mexican
Excerpt from Newspapers - Santa Fe New Mexican, 03/26/1981: An " Albuquerque undercover policeman
was shot Wednesday evening in the Torrance County community of Mclntosh and police have launched an
extensive manhunt for one man. Greg Avila was shot twice while on duty in Mclntosh. He was transported
to St. Joseph's Hospital in Albuquerque where he was listed in serious but guarded condition Wednesday
night. Police have declined to release details of the shooting incident, other than to say he was working
with other officers from the department's investigation unit at the time he was shot. Gregory was a Naval
Combat Corpsman in Vietnam and served with the United States Marine Corps 1st Battalion, 3rd Marines at
Quang Tri. After Vietnam, he came home to Albuquerque, New Mexico and joined the Albuquerque Police
Department. While serving with APD, Gregory was shot twice in the line of duty, taking a total of six bullets
â€" four in 1976 and two more in 1981.
https://www.newspapers.com/newspage/211832985/
See also
http://www.highlandhs1965.com/class_profile.cfm?member_id=5011022
Updates:2020/03/20 technical editing and activating some links in upper names menu; 2020/03/15 technical editing, some fleshing out of already present articles by including excerpted
material or titles; 2019/06/03 Page started Arredondo to Avila. Aguilar Brent KRQE-2019/05/28. Adair Aaron 2010/12/21. LA 2019/06/02 Atencio Cory Espanola added notes to brief
excerpt. 2019/05/05 Atencio Cory added article Rio Grande 2018/03/01; 2019/05/03 Armijo Ernest NY Daily News article added, Atencio Cory added; Armijo Anthony Rio Grande
Sun (2017/02/09), Anders Billy El Paso Inc-2009/03/09, Albq Jrnl-(2010/10/15); 2019/05/02 Aguirre Michael material added including Silver City Daily Press (2018) showing ten years
sentence; Aguilar Brent material added including ABC 7 Amarillo-2019/04/12, KRQE -2018/10/11; 2019/04/25 editing and more on Ackerman (Face Book Blue Warrior) and Adair.
2018/12/08 edited layout aand title area; 2018/09/16 Capehart, Daniel NMSP added/Albq Jrnl, Justice.gov, etc; 2018/01/31Artis,JereyHO-SUIT-DISCR;01/18/2018 Carter, Russ-ALBQ
DET added; 01/11/2018 page cleaned up incl duplicate names index, etc.; Anders, Billy-CLD added; 01/06/2018: Dear, Jaremy excerpt from Albq Jrnl 2016/06/23; 01/03/2018 approx
Duran-SNTA FE; 12/30/2017 Chavez, Gordon ex-CORR FBI record; 12/25/2017 Costales, Sam links incl UNM Youtube video; Brown, CJ links 2nd NMDAS, Occupy; Burns Larry
links added TDaily Mail, he Blaze; Babcock Todd 2015-16 material;Avila, Greg status shifted to Deceased from 08/2015; Error correction - suspect, not police officer -Apodaca, Paul
removed as police officer and added to Merriman , Ronald as suspect12/24/2017 changes to placement of various sections; codes moved to separate page (see link); some amplification
of and changes to codes 11/26/2017 Chavez, Jose (KOD/Hatch 08/12/2016);; Coffman, Rod/DS/Lea County/apparent suicide 2011; Wilson, Dusty; Wallace, Edmund/lea county/sex
abuse of inmate; 11/25/2017 Justice dt gov CASA APD monitoring report; 11/05/2017 Threlkeld, Eric/Carlsbad/ letter to editor Current Argus/on domestic violence issues/reforms;
Emmert, Richard/Farmington/cleared of charges;Vigil, Matthew/Espanola/Child Abuse; Malone, Casey/Farmington/clearing allegations regarding another officer. 05/29/2017;
03/19/2017