Officer charged with time card fraud

Discrepancy found in number of tickets

The New Mexico State Police Investigations Bureau announced Friday it has charged one of its officers, Joseph Andrew Gonzalez, 25, with what is commonly referred to as time card fraud.

The investigation into claiming hours he did not work began when Gonzalez’s supervisor noticed a discrepancy between the number of traffic tickets claimed versus the number actually written, State Police said in a news release.

Gonzalez, who lives in El Paso and was stationed in Alamogordo, was placed on administrative leave in late October after evidence was subsequently uncovered supporting the claim of fraudulent activity.

Investigating agents said Gonzalez claimed to have worked and written more than 600 traffic citations over eight months ending in August 2018.

State Police this month filed a criminal complaint in Otero County Magistrate Court, charging Gonzalez with five felony counts of receiving public money for services not rendered and one felony count of forgery.

Gonzalez, who is facing termination, has worked for State Police since May 2016.

“The New Mexico State Police holds its officers to the highest standard of conduct and does not tolerate dishonesty or betrayal of the public trust by those sworn to protect it,” State Police said in a statement.