Feb 2024. Blues Vol 40 No. 2

moved 1300 miles away from
home (for reasons I still don’t
understand) for a police job in
Albuquerque.
Today was my last day as an
Albuquerque police officer.
It’s an important job and one
for young, motivated warriors. It
should only be a “calling” when
you are in it. There’s a lot more
out there. #retired”
When I started in 2005 the
state of New Mexico offered a
20 year retirement system. I was
able to “buy” a year and then
burn/use sick and vacation time
and only worked 18.5 years and
am “retired” at 41 years old.
I worked over ten years as a
patrol officer.
I worked over four years in the
DWI unit.
And I spent the last four years
working as a detective in the
Internal Affairs Force Division
and the Compliance Bureau, conducting
high level administrative
investigations and presenting
cases to the Force Review Board.
I also served as an elected
union representative for officers
in the Albuquerque Police Officers
Association.
I have worked as an instructor
and taught classes on DWI and
recently served as a “collateral
instructor” for the Advanced
Training Unit teaching: ABLE
(active bystandership in law enforcement),
general law block/
legal updates, and the class explaining
the DOJ Consent Decree.
While working as a cop, I went
back for a Master’s in Criminal
justice and a law degree (J.D.).
In “retirement” I plan to write
more on Substack and create
more social media content (follow
me everywhere.)
16 The Blues - February ‘24