For the second time this year, an Albuquerque Police Academy director is stepping down, according to a report by the Albuquerque Journal.
Lt. Michael Archibeque’s last day as acting director of the academy is today, and he will be replaced Monday by Lt. J.J. Griego, the day-shift lieutenant for the Northeast Area Command, said Albuquerque Police Department officer Tanner Tixier, a spokesman.
Archibeque replaced former director Joseph Wolf earlier this year and was an acting director of the academy.
The Journal reported that Archibeque’s replacement may come from inside the department in order to expedite the hiring process.
Tixier said police only immediately considered internal candidates for the position to ensure a director was in place in a timely manner.
“At this time we just went internal,” he said. “But that’s not to say that in the future we not try to fill it with someone (from outside the department) or with a civilian.”
As New Mexico Political Report previously reported, both Wolf and Archibeque were named as defendants, along with the department and Chief Gorden Eden, in a whistleblower lawsuit.
Last week, former police trainer John Corvino filed a suit alleging retaliation by his superiors Wolf and Archibeque. Corvino’s suit alleges that when he tried to raise concerns about possible improper police certification, he was punished.
