Allegations of Nepotism and Retaliation Exposed by Whistleblowers at Albuquerque’s Police Academy

Albuquerque Police Academy Training Staff Files Lawsuit Alleging Nepotism and Retaliation

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) — A group of former members of the Albuquerque police academy’s training staff have filed a lawsuit accusing the force’s leadership of nepotism and retaliation. The whistleblower complaint revolves around a controversial policy that required male cadets to shave their heads daily with a razor.

The lawsuit alleges that one cadet, who happened to be the son of a police commander, violated the shaving policy and was initially untruthful about it. Despite being dismissed from the academy following an internal investigation, the decision was swiftly reversed within 24 hours, leading the plaintiffs to believe that the commander had intervened on behalf of his son.

In a letter to Police Chief Harold Medina, the plaintiffs described the commander’s actions as an abuse of authority and nepotistic. They emphasized that they were simply reporting ethical violations and should not face retaliation for doing so.

The lawsuit also revealed that the academy commander had instructed the training staff to implement “old school” policies and a more “military” style of training, leading to further discontent among the plaintiffs.

The plaintiffs, who collectively had over 100 years of experience, are seeking damages for lost wages, emotional distress, and harm to their reputations. They claim that the internal investigation findings have not been shared with them, and they were issued reprimands for unspecified violations of city policies.

The Albuquerque Police Department has faced other internal investigations recently, adding to the turmoil within the force. The outcome of this lawsuit could have significant implications for the department’s leadership and policies moving forward.