Jareno and Sheriff Allen

This is one of the more ironic photos you'll find in La Politica. 

It's a pic of Bernalillo County Sheriff John Allen announcing in 2023 his appointment of new Undersheriff Johann Jareno at a DWI command center. That's the same Undersheriff Jareno who has resigned at Allen's urging after it was disclosed that Jareno is under investigation in connection with the FBI probe into the APD/BSCO/NM State Police DWI bribery scandal. 

(The pic is courtesy of crime news site ABQ RAW.)

With the news that the scandal comes within a hair's breadth of the county's chief law enforcement officer, events are taking on an added dimension, one that resembles a tragedy as much as a scandal. 

Law enforcement credibility has been decimated--even if you wouldn't know it by listening to elected officials--or not listening. Comments from them have been few and far between as the Feds go about their task of uncovering what APD watchdog Dan Klein says may be "one of the most widespread corruption cases in the history of US policing."

That may be labeled hyperbole but as the dominoes fall and the casualty count rises, it seems more than reasonable.  

ROUNDHOUSE REACT

State Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Joseph Cervantes did speak out on the latest installment of the corruption scandal, asserting that Sheriff Allen was "cleaning house" by urging the Undersheriff to resign after being notified of the FBI's investigation. Cervantes said on the socials:

I've caught hell arguing the most effective way to combat rampant Albuquerque crime begins with strong leadership - not more unenforced laws. This DWI corruption has gone on decades, and kudos to a decisive Sheriff acting immediately to clean house.

But is this the time for "kudos" for doing the expected or perhaps a time for more legislative interest and oversight in the scandal?

THE FEDS AND ALLEN

Jareno started working with BCSO in March 2009 and served in the DWI Unit from December 2011 until October 2019. He was appointed undersheriff in 2023, so it appears any alleged criminal behavior did not occur while he was the #2 man at the agency.

That's a sliver of good news for Sheriff Allen, who took office in January 2023 and now is grappling with the possibility that even more deputies may be implicated. Jareno is the second. 

Earlier this month Allen criticized the US Attorney's office for what he says was a lack of "communication" about the scandal but he took a more humble tone in addressing the disgrace that fell on his department on Monday, saying: 

We are fully cooperating with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office to ensure that all aspects of this investigation are thoroughly addressed. I am grateful for the FBI bringing this new development to my attention directly and due to the ongoing nature of this federal inquiry, our comments must be measured, but be assured that transparency and communication will continue to be a priority of my administration. We are undertaking a thorough review of our internal policies and control mechanisms to prevent such incidents in the future. 

THE HARSH REALITY

Senior law officers in our state, despite impressive credentials and experience, have been reluctant to acknowledge what is happening here.

Three of our police agencies are considered rogue, riddled with decades-long DWI corruption and not to be trusted with confidential information regarding the federal investigation--an undertaking that has led to multiple officers being charged with criminal actions against the laws of the United States.

The federal probe is not a witch hunt. While it took seemingly forever for this scandal to be uncovered, it demonstrates the system of justice is still functioning. Whether it will foster reforms that stick remains in question.

This is the Home of New Mexico Politics.