On August 31, 2026,  it was widely reported by Albuquerque news outlets that six Albuquerque Police sworn officers have been placed on leave as part of an ongoing investigation into a decades-long scheme involving criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear III, his private investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez and defense attorney Rudy Chavez  who paid law enforcement to get DWI cases dismissed. APD spokesperson Gilbert Gallegos said  that APD is doing an internal investigation into the six officers, who were not named.Gallegos said this:

“We are not releasing the names at this time. …The overall investigation is still ongoing. These six officers have not yet been interviewed.”

APD created an Internal Affairs Task Force in January 2024 to investigate alleged misconduct by former or current officers. Fourteen officers have since been fired, resigned or retired during the internal investigation. The FBI is leading a separate investigation into allegations of illegal conduct. The six officers placed on leave  have not been charged in the federal criminal investigation.

More than a dozen law enforcement officers have been fired or placed on leave, including nine APD officers who have pleaded guilty in the FBI’s investigation. At least three APD officers’ homes were raided by the FBI during the investigation. A State Police Officer and Deputies with the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office have also been implicated.

SENTENCING DATES

Among the guilty pleas in federal court are ten former law enforcement officers, former defense attorney Thomas Clear III, his former paralegal, Ricardo ‘Rick’ Mendez, and former defense attorney Rudolph ‘Rudy’ Chavez. Sentencing dates have been set for some of the defendants.

• Former Albuquerque Police Officer Justin Hunt is scheduled to be sentenced on September 15 before Chief District Judge Kenneth Gonzales in Santa Fe.
• Former APD Officer Nelson Ortiz is set for sentencing on September 16, before Judge Kenneth Gonzales in Santa Fe.
• Former APD Officer Harvey Johnson is set to be sentenced on September 29 before Judge Kenneth Gonzales in Santa Fe.
• Former APD officer Joshua Montaño’s sentencing is set for October 14th also before Judge Gonzales in Santa Fe.
• Later in the year, again before Judge Gonzales, sentencing is set for former APD officer Timothy Mc Carson on November 10.
• Former Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Deputy, Jeffrey Hammerel, is scheduled for sentencing in Santa Fe on November 17.
• Former criminal defense attorney Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez is scheduled for sentencing before Judge Matthew Garcia in Albuquerque on December 8th, 2026.

No sentencing dates have been scheduled for any other defendants.

HOW DWI ENTERPRISE BRIBERY AND DISSAL SCANDAL WORKED

According to criminal complaints, indictments and plea agreements filed in Federal District Court by the New Mexico United States Attorney and the US Department of Justice, the DWI Enterprise scheme was very simple and straight forward.  It went on for upwards of 3 decades. Arresting officers would give contact information on motorists they arrested for  DWI charges to private  investigator Carlos Mendez who worked for defense attorney Thomas Clear or to Clear himself. In exchange, the officers would receive cash, gifts and legal services and intentionally fail to show up to required pretrial interviews or court hearings. The officers would also withhold evidence in cases where the suspects hired Clear. Clear would then file motions to dismiss the charges, and judges had no choice but to dismiss the cases for “lack of prosecution” as a sanction against the prosecution.

Clients whose cases were dismissed would typically pay more in legal fees of between $5,000 and $10,000 depending on if the charges were DWI, aggravated DWI other charges in addition to DWI. Law enforcement officers would be recruited by Clear and Mendez to participate in the scheme over many years. The conspirators would also profile people as to their ability to pay higher fees. Defense attorneys customarily charge between $3,000 and $6,000 to defend DWI cases depending on if the case is a person’s first, second, third or even fourth offense, misdemeanor or felony DWI. There is no charge if a defendant  qualifies and is defended by the Public Defender’s Office.

Police officers would intentionally fail to appear at required court hearings, withhold evidence or fail to file court paperwork for DWI offenders, some of whom were aware of the scheme and others who were not, who hired Clear.

Clear said during in his plea agreement that the scheme dated back to 1995. Clear admitted this in his plea agreement:

“Under this scheme, I would then appear at the (Motor Vehicle Division) administrative hearings and the criminal case settings on behalf of the DWI offender and would move to dismiss the proceedings”

Clear and his paralegal and co-conspirator Ricardo Mendez entered guilty pleas on charges of racketeering, among other federal charges. Clear and Mendez have been disbarred from the practice of law. Clear faces 130 years in prison. No one who has pleaded guilty in the case has been sentenced.

HUNDREDS OF DWI CASES DISMISSED

It has been reported that the 2nd Judicial District Attorney’s Office has dismissed over 260 DWI cases linked to the federal cases.  From January 2024 through June 2025,  sixteen officers were added to what’s called the Brady-Giglio List, a designation that deems them untrustworthy witnesses in court. As a result, two New Mexico district attorneys were forced to dismiss the officers’ open criminal cases in Bernalillo and Valencia counties. The two District Attorneys have had to dismiss 306 DWI cases against suspected drunk drivers.

https://www.krqe.com/news/investigations/dwi-dismissal-scandal-306-drunk-driving-cases-dropped-did-the-drivers-reoffend/

SINGLE LARGEST GOVERNMENT CORRUPTION SCANDAL

The bribery of law enforcement to dismiss DWI Cases is the single largest government corruption scandal in the City of Albuquerque’s and the State of New Mexico’s history involving the 3 largest law enforcement agencies in the state consisting of the Albuquerque Police Department (APD), the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department (BCSO)  and the New Mexico State police.

In addition to the six APD officers now implicated in the scandal, another nineteen (19) law enforcement officers have been implicated and have resigned, retired, been terminated or federally charged or plead guilty to charges. The FBI executed five search warrants  in January 2024 at three APD officers’ residences, the home of a private investigator, and the law office of prominent DWI attorney Thomas Clear III. Private Criminal  Defense Attorneys Thomas Clear and Rudy Chavez have plead guilty to federal charges and have been disbarred by the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Federal Court. Clear’s private investigator and paralegal Ricardo “Rick” Mendez also plead guilty to federal charges.

CHRONOLOGY 16 APD OFFICERS IMPLICATED, CHARGED OR PLEADING GUILTY

A total of 22 APD police officers have now been implicated. Sixteen APD Police officers have already been implicated in the corruption scandal. One by one, the accused APD officers have turned in their badges and resigned or retired  rather than talking to Internal Affairs investigators about an alleged public corruption scheme involving DWI cases. The names and dates of the 16 officers who have resigned, placed on leave, who have been terminated, retired, charged or plead guilty are:

On February 7, 2024 Justin Hunt, who started at APD in 2000, resigned. On January 20, 2026 Hunt plead guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right.”

On February 29, 2024, Honorio Alba, who started at APD in 2014, resigned. On February 7, 2025 he plead guilty to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy.(Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)

On March 13, 2024, Harvey Johnson, who started at APD in 2014, resigned.

On March 15, 2024, Nelson Ortiz, who started at APD in 2016, resigned. On March 24, Nelson Ortiz  admitted to his role in the DWI Enterprise bribery scandal and  plead guilty in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right. He faces 20 years in prison.

On March 20, 2024 Joshua Montaño, who started at APD January 2005, resigned. On Friday, February 8, Montaño plead guilty as charge to  racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy. (Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)

On May 2, 2024 Daren DeAguero, who started with APD in 2009, resigned.

On May 9, 2024, Matthew Trahan was placed on paid leave as the investigation played out. Trahan has been with APD since 2006, was with the DWI unit from 2014-16 and recently worked as a detective.

On July 30, 2024 APD Officer Neill Elsman, who had worked in the DWI unit within the past several years, resigned before returning to work from military leave. On February 12, 2025 Elsman plead guilty as charged  to 5  counts of  conspiracy, extortion, and bribery. (Article: February 12, 2025.)

On August 1, APD announced that it fired Mark Landavazo, the APD Commander of Internal Affairs for Professional Standards, who started with APD in  2007 and was with the DWI unit from 2008 through 2013.

On October 16, 2024 Deputy Commander Gustavo Gomez placed on paid administrative leave. Gomez was with the DWI unit from 2010 to 2013.

On January 24, 2025 APD announced they placed officers Matthew Chavez on leave.

On February 28, Kyle Curtis announced his retirement after he was placed on leave on February 24 amid being targeted in the Internal investigation involving DWI arrests.

In 2022, Timothy McCarson retired from the Albuquerque Police Department  and he has been implicated in the DWI scandal. The last week of January, 2025,  the FBI asked that he be added to the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office‘s Giglio list, which classifies potential court testimony as unreliable. On December 15, 2025, McCarson plead guilty to one count of “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.”

On May 12, former APD officer Steve Hindi was placed on the Giglio list of officers whose credibility is compromised after being implicated in the scandal.

On March 24, 2024  APD  announced it  had placed Lucas Perez on leave as a part of its internal investigation into its DWI unit and the federal investigation. Perez had been with the department since 2016 and served in the DWI unit and become the DWI unit sergeant. On May 27,2025 Lucas Perez plead guilty to conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.

On June 26, 2025  APD Officer Daniel Carr who served with APD for nearly 20 years and who then became a lateral hire and went to work for the Durango Police Department, became the 16th former APD officer to join the ranks of officers listed on the Bernalillo County District Attorney’s Office ‘Giglio list‘.  This is a listing  of officers who are no longer trusted witnesses in court. He was implicated in the DWI bribery and conspiracy case to dismiss cases. Carr immediately resigned from the Durango Police Department after the Department was notified of the action. Carr has not been charged with a crime.

THREE BERNALILLO COUNTY SHERRIFF DEPUTIES IMPLICATED

The dates and names of the 3 BCSO officers who have resigned or placed on leave by Sherriff John Allen or who have plead guilty to charges are:

On February 25, 2025  BCSO Deputy Jeff Hammerel resigned from BCSO and  plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion and two counts of bribery.

On February 24, 2025, BCSO Undersheriff Johann Jareno was asked to resign by  Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen.

March 7^th, BCSO Deputy Jeffry Bartram was placed on leave on after early findings that he may have been involved in the scheme. He has been with BCSO since February 2010 and was on the BCSO DWI Unit from July 2014 to August 2020.

ONE MEXICO STATE POLICE OFFICER

On February 14, 2025 the New Mexico State Police announced it placed Sgt. Toby LaFave on administrative leave after he was implicated by the FBI as accepting bribes in the DWI Enterprise to dismiss cases. Sgt.Toby LaFave was placed on paid leave as the agency did  its own internal investigation into allegations. LaFave was featured for years in state ENDWI campaigns and he was referred to as the DWI King. In in November 2025 LaFave was officially fired for his alleged role in the bribery scheme, but he has not yet been criminally charged.

LaFave, who joined State Police in 2012, said in an online public service promotion video that he has made 3,000 arrests during his 20 years in law enforcement. Court records show LaFave has filed at least 1,300 felony and misdemeanor DWI cases from 2009 to February, 2025. Of the 31 DWI cases where LaFave was the arresting officer and Clear was the defense attorney, 17, or 57%, were dismissed by the courts.

The link to a quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/article_97483524-eb17-11ef-9c15-8320a7b16191.htm/

DWI DISMISSAL SCANDAL SCORE CARD

Over the last three years, federal prosecutors have secured guilty pleas from Clear, Mendez, attorney Rudy Chavez, nine Albuquerque Police Department officers and one Bernalillo County sheriff’s deputy. Other law enforcement officers, including one from the New Mexico State Police, have either been fired or retired. None have gone to trial, and all 13 defendants prosecuted on racketeering- and extortion-related charges are awaiting sentencing.

Nine APD officers and one Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy have plead guilty to federal charges of taking bribes. Additionally, two Albuquerque defense attorneys, and one private investigator have plead guilty in the ongoing federal investigation into a nearly 30-year conspiracy in which a group of DWI officers received cash, free legal services and other benefits for helping get DWI cases dismissed.

NINE  APD COPS AND ONE BERNALILLO COUNTY DEPUTY SHERIFF PLEAD GUILTY AS CHARGED

The nine APD officers and one Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office Deputy who have plead guilty to federal charges of taking bribes are:

1. On February 7, 2025 former APD Officer Honorio Alba plead guilty to racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy. (Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
2. On February 7, 2025 former APD Officer Joshua Montaño plead guilty as charge to  racketeering, bribery, extortion and conspiracy.(Article link: Took a plea deal on February 7, 2025.)
3. On February 12, 2025 former APD Officer Neill Elsman plead guilty as charged  to 5 counts of  conspiracy, extortion, and bribery.  ( February 12, 2025.)
4. On March 24, 2025 former APD officer Nelson Ortiz admitted to his role in the DWI Enterprise bribery scandal and pleaded guilty in federal court to one count of Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right. He faces 20 years in prison.
5. On April 29, 2025 former APD Police Officer Harvey Johnson plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit “Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color Of Official Right”. He is facing 20 years in jail.
6. On May 27, 2025 former APD Officer Lucas Perez plead guilty to “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.” It was on March 24, 2024 that APD announced it had placed Lucas Perez  on leave as a part of its internal investigation into its DWI unit and the federal investigation. Perez had been with the department since 2016 and served in the DWI unit to become the unit sergeant.
7. On June 23, 2025 former APD Officer Louis Henckel plead guilty in federal court, admitting to his role in the conspiracy with criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear and his employee  Ricardo Mendez to accept bribes to get DWI cases dismissed. Henckel plead guilty to one count of “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.” The maximum penalty is up to 20 years in prison and a fine up to $250,000.
8. On December 15, 2025, retired APD Officer Timothy McCarson plead guilty to one count of “conspiracy to commit interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right.”
9. On February 25, 2025,  BCSO Deputy Jeff Hammerel resigned from BCSO and  plead guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit extortion, two counts of extortion and two counts of bribery. (Took a plea deal on February 25, 2025.)
10. On January 20, 2026, former APD Lieutenant Justin Hunt plead guilty to one count of “Conspiracy to Commit Interference With Commerce By Extortion Under Color of Official Right.”

TWO RING LEADERS PLEAD GUILTY AS CHARGED

Former DWI Criminal defense attorney Thomas Clear III and his private  investigator Ricardo “Rick” Mendez  plead guilty as charged to paying bribes to law enforcement to get their client’s DWI cases get dismissed.

On January 24, Ricardo “Rick” Mendez, 53, the private investigator for attorney Thomas Clear III, plead guilty to all the charges contained in the criminal Information including racketeering, bribery of an agent receiving federal funds, aiding and abetting, interference with commerce by extortion under color of official right and to conspiracy. Mendez is facing 110 years in prison on the charges. On April 29  Ricardo “Rick” Mendez was scheduled to be sentenced connection with the DWI scandal. In a surprise move on the day of his sentencing it was simply vacated by the federal court. The  likely reason for the delay is that Mendez is providing new information about the DWI scandal and identifying more suspects to be charge.

On February 12, DWI defense attorney Thomas Clear III, 67 plead guilty as charged to nine federal charges including racketeering (RICO) conspiracy, bribery, and extortion. Clear faces up to 130 years in prison and $2 million in fines. Clear has been permanently disbarred from the practice of law by the New Mexico Supreme Court and the Federal Court. A forfeiture action against a home Clear used as his offices has been taken as an asset and as part of the racketeering charge.

DEFENSE ATTORNEY RUDOLPH “RUDY” CHAVEZ PLEADS GUILTY

On July 10, 2025, private criminal defense attorney Rudolph “Rudy” Chavez plead guilty to a federal extortion charge admitting he bribed an Albuquerque police officer in 2023 to help get his  client’s drunken driving case dismissed. Chavez  plead guilty to one count each of interference with commerce by extortion and lying to FBI agents investigating the payoff in March 2024.

In his plea agreement, Chavez admits he contacted Clear’s assistant Recardo “Rick” Mendez after he was hired by his client who had been arrested in April 2023 by Albuquerque Police Department DWI officer Honorio Alba Jr. Through Mendez, Chavez paid Alba to intentionally not appear in court on the DWI case.  Chavez admits this in his plea agreement:

“I admit that when coordinating the scheme, I knew that Alba was a necessary witness and because Alba planned to fail to appear, I knew that the case and proceedings would likely be dismissed.”

Chavez states in his plea agreement he agreed to be interviewed by FBI agents on March 26, 2024. During his FBI interview, Chavez was warned of the potential criminal consequences of lying to federal law enforcement officers. During his interview with  FBI agents, Chavez denied knowing Alba was not going to appear in court.

In his federal plea agreement, Chavez admits he lied to  FBI agents and admits he had phone calls with Mendez ahead of the court hearings to ensure Alba would not attend. Chavez  admits  in his plea he spoke on the phone with Mendez after the dismissal “during which I thanked him and asked him to thank Alba.”

NO AGREEMENTS AS TO SENTENCINGS

Review of all plea agreements reveals there are no agreements as to sentencing, meaning it will be up to the federal judge assigned who will decide the sentences of each defendant. A pre-sentence report will be prepared by sentencing, probation and parole authorities for each defendant, and a recommendation will be made as to sentencing to the judge. Depending on the actual number of charges plead to by each defendant, they are facing jail sentences between 5 years and 20 years and as much as130 years in federal prison and could face fines  as low as $20,000 or in excess of $1 million dollars.

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

There is absolutely no doubt that APD’s reputation is  trashed to a major extent because of this scandal. APD is viewed by many as again having just another bastion of “dirty and corrupt cops” who have brought dishonor to their department and their badge and to the department’s professed values of “Pride, Integrity, Fairness and Respect”.  There is little doubt that this whole DWI dismissal bribery scandal has shaken the public’s faith in our criminal justice system and APD to its core especially with the involvement of the Bernalillo County Sheriffs Office BCSO and New Mexico State Police Officers.

The only way that any semblance of faith can begin to be restored and for people to begin trusting APD and law enforcement in general is if all the police officers involved in this scandal are held accountable, the lawyers involved are held accountable and when they are all behind bars. That will only happen with aggressive prosecutions, convictions, and lengthy prison sentences for the law enforcement officers and attorneys involved in the “DWI Enterprise” scheme. Justice will not be served until all are sentenced. Sentencings delayed means Justice has not been served.

The courts need to get along with the sentencings.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/albuquerque-police-department-dwi-investigation/dwi-corruption-scheme-sentencing-dates-set/?ipid=promo-link-block1

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/apd-places-6-officers-on-leave-in-dwi-scandal/3112763

https://www.kob.com/new-mexico/six-more-apd-officers-on-leave-after-dwi-deception-investigation/

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/albuquerque-police-department-dwi-investigation/apd-places-6-officers-on-leave-pending-investigation-into-former-dwi-unit/

https://www.koat.com/article/apd-places-6-officers-on-leave-as-part-of-dwi-investigation/73573369

https://www.krqe.com/news/crime/albuquerque-police-department-dwi-investigation/apd-places-6-officers-on-leave-pending-investigation-into-former-dwi-unit/

https://www.koat.com/article/apd-places-6-officers-on-leave-as-part-of-dwi-investigation/73573369

https://www.krqe.com/news/investigations/dwi-dismissal-scandal-306-drunk-driving-cases-dropped-did-the-drivers-reoffend/

 

On August 15, Mayor Keller spoke in front of an audience of upwards of 300  for a full hour to deliver his heavily publicized ninth “State of the City” address. Keller dubbed  his third term agenda as an “Abundance Agenda”.

During his State of the City address, Mayor Tim Keller boldly proclaimed this:

“Government is adding to people’s frustrations during an already turbulent time by maintaining a mindset that adds, rather than removes, barriers in day-to-day life. … When times are good, we have trouble keeping up because we cling to that scarcity mindset. … That’s what holds us back. … Government is actually reducing your freedom. … It’s reducing your set of decisions and it’s not helping in any way. It’s adding to the friction in everyday life and it’s reinforcing a scarcity mindset.”

It’s amazing that Tim Keller talked like he was just elected Mayor. These are words coming from someone who has been Mayor for eight and a half years as he channeled President Ronald Reagan who famously said “In this present crisis, government is not the solution to our problem; government is the problem.”

Keller’s State of the City address focused little on his list of accomplishments and ignored his 8 year record and lack of accomplishment as Mayor. Keller’s State of the City address focused on why Albuquerque continues to struggle with public safety, housing, economic opportunity and government bureaucracy.

The link to review Mayor Tim Keller’s August 15 State of the City Address is here:

https://www.cabq.gov/sotc

HIGHLIGHTS OF KELLER’S STATE OF THE CITY ADDRESS

During his August 15 State of the City address, Keller gave a detailed historical background of New Mexico. Keller said New Mexico is a demonstration of resilience that was built on the foundation of a scarcity mindset, hoarding resources with the idea that the state might need them again. At a time of deep political division nationally and in New Mexico, Keller said Albuquerque has an opportunity to pursue a different path rooted in the city’s own history and identity.

Keller said this:

“We’re a city at the crossroads. We need each other’s help to transcend all that has held us back, to keep our cherished authentic cultural core, and to grow into the city of shared prosperity we are capable of.  I argue that our history is actually core to understanding who we are today and where we have to go.”

Mayor Keller said people in the state say “no” to infrastructure projects, such as  the Rail Trail and the placement of the New Mexico United stadium with both under constant scrutiny. Keller said this:

 “[This is] about a city abundance agenda that is about sharing what we have instead of protecting and hoarding it. It is about making your life a little bit easier each day and it’s about trying to reduce all those things that are causing friction that make your life difficult here in the city of Albuquerque.  … And if we can do that, we can restore some hope. We can restore a baseline of inspiration that actually says that in Albuquerque, New Mexico, this is a better place to live than anywhere else. Not just because of our amazing culture, but also because the government is helpful. … This is not about you, not about me, it’s about us together.  Let’s answer some core questions that vex us today and get to a theory of change for tomorrow.”

Keller challenged leaders across Albuquerque and New Mexico to bring the same abundance mindset to the region’s biggest decisions. Investing in people and infrastructure, supporting transformative projects, and moving beyond the tendency to repeatedly relitigate major investments rather than getting them built.

For his third term, Keller said he is challenging city government to work differently by starting with safety, removing unnecessary barriers, expanding choices, sharing resources the City already has, and making government tangibly useful in people’s everyday lives. This coming from someone who has been Mayor for eight and a half years, and it should have been done all along.

KELLER’S ABUNDANCE AGENDA EXPLORED IN DETAIL

Keller announced that his “Abundance Agenda” will be a push to open more opportunities for people to build, invest, and improve the city while reducing the bureaucratic hurdles that too often get in the way of good ideas. Keller said he wants to focus on sharing “every asset the city has to offer.”  Keller’s “Abundance Agenda” includes initiatives like making it easier to receive a commercial or residential building permit, focusing on local labor agreement and turning city land into affordable housing. With this in mind, Keller said the city will begin to take a new approach to how city resources will be shared.

Keller’s “Abundance Agenda” will focus on three key points during his third term as Mayor:

1. Public safety
2. Making the local government provide help to those in need and
3. Building our civic muscle to be able to actually get things done.

PUBLIC SAFETY

Mayor Keller proclaimed  his Abundance Agenda  will not  succeed unless residents feel safe in their homes, neighborhoods and public spaces and he said this:

“None of this strategy works if we are not safe as a community. … Crime is going down in Albuquerque. It doesn’t mean we feel safer, but we know the statistics are going in the right direction. … Folks just want the city of Albuquerque government to help them a little bit, to help ease the pain of everyday life, even if it’s in a small way. … Public safety is a precursor to any form of abundance. You can’t move from a scarcity mindset focused on survival to one of growth and abundance when you’re scared.”

Keller described safety in its broadest sense, encompassing families using parks, people riding buses or walking down the street, businesses opening their doors, and people experiencing homelessness, addiction or behavioral health crises. APD will continue working to reduce crime, Albuquerque Community Safety (ACS) will continue providing an alternative response to behavioral health and other nonviolent calls, and the Gateway System of Care will continue expanding pathways from the street to shelter, treatment, and stable housing. The City will also take a stronger approach to fentanyl, addiction, and other factors driving homelessness, providing safe alternatives and clear pathways to treatment and recovery while restoring shared public spaces for everyone. He challenged the community “to commit to some clear principles, to a public compact that we can do better than leave someone on the street.”

Keller said that the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) will continue focusing on violent crime, drug houses and businesses associated with illegal drug activity. The mayor highlighted a violence-intervention program that will connect high school students with services and mentors who have lived experience, including people who were formerly incarcerated. Keller said this:

“It has shown for every kid in the program roughly an 80% increase in their grades and an 80% drop in any criminal activity.  … We just finished offering it to every high school in Albuquerque. This is going to make a difference in our city.”

Mayor Keller noted existing programs, such as Albuquerque Community Safety, the Gateway Center and the School-Based Violence Intervention Program which he claimed was the most successful program in the state.

Mayor Tim Keller announced that the Albuquerque Community Safety Department’s (ACS)  role in responding to behavioral-health, mental-health and other nonviolent calls will be expanded. He said the department has now taken 150,000 calls from the 911 system. “Those are all calls APD did not have to respond to so they could focus on violent crime.”

FENTANYL CRISIS

Mayor Keller addressed allegations made by a former Drug Enforcement Agency agent and published by the Albuquerque media that the agency had allowed tens of thousands of fentanyl pills to be trafficked into New Mexico in the name of tracing the drugs’ path to make more major arrests from 2023 to 2025, calling the actions “wrong” and “immoral”. Keller said this:

“We are at least going to honor the cost of those lives that were lost, the cost of everyone who’s working in recovery and in rehab and dealing with this issue, the cost of law enforcement to deal with this issue, and we are going to hold those accountable who made that decision. … We are going to make sure that Albuquerque is never used again by our federal government for a drug experiment.”

Staying on the subject of federal government, the mayor pledged to “stand up to ICE”  (Immigrations and Customs Enforcement) following the deaths of Renée Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota, saying “we have the laws and the grit and the guts to make sure that that does not happen in Albuquerque.”

MAKING THE LOCAL GOVERNMENT PROVIDE HELP TO THOSE IN NEED 

Mayor Keller said responding to homelessness will again be a major priority during his third term with a focus on individualized care. He said the approach includes diversion from jail, transportation, shelter beds and assistance with personal belongings. Keller said this:

 “We have to start treating individuals like people who have their own history and their own needs instead of just by location. … We have to build our system around the actual individual.”

Mayor Keller called for a new public compact that provides meaningful help to people experiencing living homelessness or addiction while keeping shared spaces safe and accessible. Keller said this:

“Public spaces have to be for everyone.  It is not illegal to sit at a bench in a park and it’s also not illegal to walk down the street, but it is illegal to do drugs in our parks. … We have to have compassion to actually get people real help, but we also have to make sure that the public domain is there for all of us to enjoy together.”

To help address the unhoused, Keller said the Gateway System of 5 shelters is providing shelter and services to individuals, families and teenagers. Keller said the Gateway System of Care is  finally up and running, taking care of 1,200 people every night. He also said the Albuquerque Community Safety Department  is helping connect people on the streets or in emergency rooms with Gateway services. Keller boasted saying this:

“ACS is transporting almost 600 folks a month from the streets into the Gateway System. … They’re also diverting 2,000 people from emergency rooms into places like the Gateway System, where they can get the right kind of care.”

Mayor Tim Keller said one way the city can help reduce visible homelessness is to require more treatment and diversion options, as well as additional state support for the Gateway System and housing assistance. Keller said this:

“We should not have to grovel for resources for the Gateway System. It’s the single most needed right thing now in our city and we should not have to beg for housing vouchers.”

AFFORDABLE HOUSING INITIATIVES

Mayor Keller spoke about housing and affordability among residents trying to buy a home or rent an apartment in the city. Keller said Albuquerque’s rules have traditionally limited people to single-family homes and he wants his administration to manufacture homes and find easier ways to build them. Mayor Keller said this:

“We’re going to start by democratizing what it means to actually decide for yourself what your home should be. … You pick what type, and you’ll have options, choices to actually decide what home means for you.”

Mayor Keller’s “Abundance Agenda” includes a new online program called the “Available City Property Program” that lists nearly 200 city-owned properties that are  vacant or underused public land to be leased, purchased or used for projects such as housing, businesses and community gardens, depending on location and zoning. (POSTCRIPT provides a link to article on “Available City Property Program”.) The city plans to offer vacant buildings to certified child care providers, expand evening and weekend rentals of community facilities and let residents  share excess home-grown produce and eggs at the city’s four Health and Social Service Centers. Mayor Keller said certified childcare providers could use underused city buildings without paying for the space. Keller said this:

“We are just going to let any childcare group that is certified and all that can use our space for free. … We’re going to give you dozens of buildings to take care of our kids for the next generation.”

Keller announced a facility rental program that will allow families to rent city-owned spaces, including community centers and theaters, for recreational use such as quinceañeras and anniversaries. Rental fees will be based on the scale and purpose of the activity for the 20 locations currently available for booking. Certified childcare groups will be able to use the facilities for free, he added. Keller said the city plans to make gyms, community centers and event spaces more accessible after normal business hours and he said this:

 “We are going to let you rent and use our facilities seven days a week and we’re going to let you use them in the evenings.”

Keller  proposed a “yes first” policy that would allow thousands of building projects to begin before inspections are complete.

Mayor Keller addressed a proposed program that would allow residents to take surplus produce and eggs to four city health and social-service centers for distribution. Keller said “So, we’re creating the Backyard Exchange. … We’re going to connect the people with extra to the people who need it. …That is demonstrating food and abundance here in Albuquerque.”

COST OF LIVING AND AFFORDABILITY

Keller said this:

“Cost of living is more than paying bills.  It’s also the time and frustration that everyday tasks take from our lives. Government should make everyday life easier, not take more of your time.”

Keller emphasized how that principle will shape work across City government. For people building or repairing homes and for entrepreneurs trying to open businesses, the City is working to shorten permitting timelines, preapprove more construction plans, use new technology for inspections, and eliminate unnecessary points of delay. For some smaller projects, the City will fundamentally reverse the traditional relationship between residents and government. Keller said this:

“We are switching the default to ‘yes”. … Instead of ‘wait for the City to start,’ it’s ‘start and the City will catch up.’”

The City will also launch a “backyard exchange” connecting excess produce and eggs from local gardens, farms and home growers with families around the city who can use them. It’s another example of the abundance principle of connecting resources that already exist with people who need them.

Keller’s abundance agenda also calls for growing Albuquerque’s economy so families have more opportunities to earn and get ahead. That means building on the city’s competitive advantages in emerging industries including quantum, fusion, and directed energy, while making sure new investment creates good local jobs and supports local businesses through tools like community benefit agreements.

REDUCING FRICTION ON FAMILIES

For families, Keller said his abundance agenda and the changes it will bring are about making it easier to live a good life in Albuquerque. A birthday party should not require navigating layers of government bureaucracy. A youth sports team should be able to find an affordable place to practice. A childcare provider should not be stopped because usable space is sitting empty. A neighborhood should not have to watch vacant public land remain fenced off for decades.

Keller said this:

“By giving people more choices, sharing what government does have and making it easier to do things, we can reduce the pain of daily living. … That is our City abundance agenda; that we all feel safer and feel better about City government because it actually is helpful in our daily lives.”

CLOSING REMARKS

Mayor Keller ended his State of the City  address by saying  the city and state have an “opportunity that we haven’t seen in generations,” noting that the University of New Mexico recently welcomed a new president just months before the state will elect a new governor. Keller said this:

“We have to push back against the scarcity mindset that is still with us from that history that was the other side of resilience because now we actually can demonstrate abundance.”

COMMENTARY AND ANALYSIS

Keller’s eight and a half year record as mayor reflects the type of leadership and failed programs we can expect over the next three and a half years. Keller’s Abundance Agenda will be more of the same approach to government and failed policies to the city’s problems.

THE KELLER RECORD AS MAYOR

Mayor Tim Keller’s did not cover his eight year record as Mayor in his State of the City address and it merits review now that he has announced his third term agenda.

THE ART BUS PROJECT

During his first term, Mayor Keller completed the $125 million dollar ART bus project down central initiated by his predecessor Mayor Richard Berry  The ART Bus budget destroyed many downtown businesses as well as historic Route 66. Keller could have easily abandoned the ART Bus project, especially when he declared it “a bit of a lemon” and was forced to sue the bus manufacturer and Keller settled the case for no damages. Keller could have restored Central, but he abandoned it ignoring the destruction of it and its historical significance.

FEDERAL DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE CONSENT DEGREE

For seven years, Keller was saddled with a Department of Justice (DOJ) consent degree over APD negotiated by his predecessor Mayor Richard Berry that mandated 276 reforms. Keller promised the consent decree would be resolved and all reforms instituted during his first four-year term, but he took seven years. The city spent millions to implement the reforms while Keller allowed the police union to undercut the reform process. APD finally instituted constitutional policing practices to prevent excessive use of force and deadly force with the DOJ consent decree dismissed, but it was not because of Keller’s leadership but because of the efforts of the Department of Justice and the Court appointed federal monitor holding the city’s feet to the fire. At one point, APD and the city almost came to being held in contempt of court with its failures.

CITY CRIME RATES

Eight years ago when Keller first ran and became Mayor, he proclaimed crime was out of control, that he could get it down and that he would increase APD sworn from the 850 under Mayor Berry to 1,200. During Keller’s entire two terms as Mayor, the number of sworn APD officers has never reached 1,000. During Keller’s first seven years as Mayor, homicides, aggravated assaults and drug crimes spiked to historical highs. Violent crime spiked so bad that Keller announced 5 separate programs, including declaring violent crime a Public Health Crises. The new programs he initiated  accomplished little next to nothing to bring down violent crime. After 8 years, historically high crime rates only began to come down in 2025 with the decline part of a national trend. The city’s ongoing homicide and violent crime rates continue to be at unacceptable highs and people simply do not feel safe in their homes as the fentanyl crisis surges.

APD TOP HEAVY MANAGMENT AND MISMANAGEMENT 

The Albuquerque Police Department is still dangerously understaffed at 913 sworn police officers with only 350 sworn police assigned to the area commands in 3 shifts to handle thousands of calls for service. APD is seriously top heavy with management. Mayor Keller added new levels of police management creating the positions of Major, Deputy Commanders and Chief Public Safety Officer. On March 24, and after over three-month national search, Mayor Tim Keller announced his appointment of Interim APD Chief Cecily Barker as the new APD Chief and Public Safety Executive Director Raul Bujanda who also oversees APD. APD Chief Barker was one of former APD Chief Harold Medina’s Deputy Chiefs, she was Medina’s own personally announce preferred replacement, and she has kept most if not all of Chief Medina’s upper command staff when they should have been replaced. Keller created the Chief Public Safety Officer position and he is  paid $180,000 a year. APD has had eight years of increased budgets, salary increases and lucrative bonus initiated by Mayor Keller yet only 350 patrol the streets and crime is still at unacceptable levels.

Mayor Keller’s mismanagement of APD during his tenure as Mayor extended all the way up to the APD Chief. Keller refused to hold APD Chief Harold Medina accountable for a vehicle crash where Medina negligently plowed into another driver putting the driver in the hospital in critical condition. Medina admitted to violating state law when he failed to have his body camera on during an incident that preceded the crash. After the crash, Keller called Medina “arguably the most important person right now in these times in our city.” Medina’s appointed Crash Review Board declared the crash as “non avoidable” even after Medina admitted to causing the crash. Medina was given a slap on the wrist with letters of reprimand. The City and Medina have been sued by the injured driver and the case is still pending and will likely result in a significant judgement being paid for Medina’s negligent driving and his running of a red light.  Medina is gone, but his philosophy and influence on the department remains firm because his management team remains in charge.

Then there is the largest bribery and corruption case in APD’s history with 14 APD Officers implicated and 3 who have been federally charged and who have plead guilty to federal bribery and conspiracy charges involving the dismissal of hundreds of DWI cases for bribes. The former APD officers face up to 130 years in prison. Not one of the defendants have been sentenced. On August 31, it was reported that another 6 APD police officers have been placed on leave after being implicated in the scandal. Mayor Keller has refused to take any responsibility for what happened under his watch as he  deflected  and blamed others. Keller blamed the Court’s, the DAs Office and the Public Defenders for the DWI dismissals.

MILLIONS SPENT TO PROVIDE UNHOUSED SERVICES THEY REJECT

Since day one of becoming Mayor in 2017, dealing with the unhoused on the streets of Albuquerque and getting the homeless off the streets and getting them services has been a major priority of Mayor Tim Keller. During Keller’s tenure as Mayor, the number of homeless has more than doubled despite his efforts as he allows the homeless to proliferate the city streets. The most recent “Point In Time” Survey of the unhoused released mid- August reports the city has 3,122 people unhoused, up from  2,960 reported in 2025. In the last 4 years, Keller has spent upwards of $300 million on 5 shelters with 125 service contracts and service programs for the homeless.

Keller has increased spending for services yearly the past four years to the unhoused to the tune of $53,901,355 (F/Y ‘26) to $85,283,471 (F/Y ’27). The biggest obstacle is that 75% of the homeless refuse city shelter and services, yet millions are being spent.  Keller has advocated allowing  upwards of 100 Safe Outdoor Spaces for 1,000  homeless to camp, scattered through out the city. Keller created the Albuquerque Community Safety Division and staffed it with upwards of 125  with social workers and mental health care professionals to do outreach to the homeless and to reduce by the thousands calls for service to APD, but the homeless still proliferate city streets.

KELLER’S UPZONING EFFORTS REBRANDED AS “DEMOCRACY” 

During his State of the City Address, Keller said this in part about housing: “We’re going to start by democratizing what it means to actually decide for yourself what your home should be. … You pick what type, and you’ll have options, choices to actually decide what home means for you.” What Keller did was simply “rebrand” his aggressive approach to make major changes to all city zoning laws. Keller wants to double or triple housing density in established neighborhoods over strenuous objections from  property owners and neighborhood associations. Keller wants to allow “upzoning” by residential property owners to increase density and allow casita and duplex development and apartment development on corners in all established neighborhoods to benefit developers and to deprive adjacent property owners the right to object and appeal. Keller erroneously believes that increased density will increase affordable housing as he  ignores market forces and the profit motive. Keller’s zoning changes will make gentrification an official city policy that caters to developers at the expense of neighborhoods and property rights.

CONCLUSION

Mayor Keller himself has contributed significantly to our frustrations during turbulent times and for the last eight years with many of his failed policies and failed management practices, especially those dealing with the unhoused, APD management and the DWI bribery and conspiracy scandal and residential zoning changes to double or triple density to benefit developers and investors. Based on his State of the City Address, we can expect the same mediocre quality of leadership Mayor Keller has bought to  the city for the last 8 and half years with little to show for it. Keller’s State of the City Address was his attempt at eloquence and inspiration, and it was neither.

Links to quoted or relied upon news sources are here:

https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/state-of-the-city-2026-mayor-charts-a-path-from-scarcity-to-abundance

https://www.cabq.gov/mayor/news/state-of-the-city-2026-mayor-charts-a-path-from-scarcity-to-abundance

https://www.koat.com/article/albuquerque-mayor-tim-keller-state-city-address-new-mexico-public-safety-housing-affordability-homelessness-behavioral-health/73444010

https://www.abqjournal.com/news/keller-pushes-abundance-agenda-in-state-of-the-city/3102741?fbclid=IwY2xjawT2eJtwZG9mAWV4dG4DYWVtAjEwAGJyaWQRMVZJV2dFN2syOWJFNFpwMWlzcnRjBmFwcF9pZBAyMjIwMzkxNzg4MjAwODkyAAEeV_hA_Y8xR6kgGM7Ija9zBi6NEd-SN2eH2yh1M_kJpWUQm6Ua_6jAhPoNQXw_aem_-NL-4y3B5oU17kYH279aFg

https://abq.news/2026/08/what-mayor-kellers-new-abundance-agenda-means-for-albuquerque/

https://nm.news/2026/08/17/what-mayor-kellers-new-abundance-agenda-means-for-albuquerque/

https://www.dailylobo.com/article/2026/08/keller-introduces-abundance-agenda-during-ninth-state-of-the-city-address

https://brant.one/2026/08/16/what-is-albuquerque-mayor-tim-kellers-abundance-agenda-key-takeaways-from-his-2026-state-of-the-city-address/#google_vignette

The link to a related Dinelli article is here:

Mayor Tim Keller’s “Available City Properties Program” Viable Option To Solve Affordable Housing Crunch; Keller In State Of City Address Again Advocates Upzoning To Increase Density; COMMENTARY: Surveys Of Available Properties Reveal No Need For Upzoning In Established Neighborhoods; Keller, City Council Need To Defend Neighborhoods From Investors, Developers And Gentrification