6th officer resigns APD amid DWI Unit investigation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – The Albuquerque Police Department says a sixth officer has resigned amid an investigation into the department’s DWI Unit. According to APD Spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos, Daren DeAguero elected to “retire” on Tuesday after being told he was being investigated and would be interviewed the same day. DeAguero joined APD in 2009 and served in the DWI Unit from 2014-2018. According to Gallegos, DeAguero said he was retiring but did not follow the process to do so.

DeAguero is the sixth APD officer to resign or retire because of the investigation. The other officers to resign are Honorio Alba, Harvey Johnson, Nelson Ortiz, Lt. Justin Hunt, and Joshua Montaño. Earlier this year, KRQE News 13 learned that officers on the DWI Unit were being investigated after claims that they were paid to get DWI cases dropped.

According to court documents obtained by KRQE News 13, the APD investigated a claim against the DWI Unit in 2022 but said it did not have enough evidence to move forward with the investigation.

No officers have been charged in connection to the investigation.

Albuquerque Mayor Tim Keller emailed KRQE News 13 this statement on Tuesday:

The City of Albuquerque released the following statement from Mayor Tim Keller in reaction to APD’s update on the DWI investigation: 

“The people of Albuquerque deserve to have trust that the criminal justice system is working to stop drunk driving. These allegations of corruption between officers and defense attorneys are a betrayal to the people that police officers are sworn to protect and a betrayal to their fellow officers who put their lives on the line every day for our families.   

As we await the FBI’s complete investigation, we will continue to work with our law enforcement partners to ensure no stone is left unturned.

Mayor Tim Keller, City of Albuquerque