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Sunday, May 11, 2008
Detective Enjoys Training, Mentoring New Officers
By Liz Otero
Of the Journal
AROUND TOWN: Two Albuquerque Police Department officers have been selected as Officers of the Month for May. They are Detective Frank Flores and officer John Kelly.
Flores was selected as the Non-Uniformed Officer of the Month for May. Flores began his career with APD in 1990, working in the Field Services Bureau for nine years. He was then assigned to the Valley Area Command where he worked as a violent crimes detective from 1999 to 2002. Flores has been a homicide detective for the past six years.
Flores enjoys mentoring and training new people and often works as an instructor at the police academy. He served as a field training officer while assigned to the Field Services Bureau. He has accrued approximately 700 hours of nonmandated law enforcement related training.
Flores has been involved in many high-profile cases, most recently a double homicide, cited an APD press release. “Due to Detective Flores' superb interviewing skills, he was ultimately successful in his efforts to encourage the suspect to confess his crime,” APD said. “Detective Flores' ‘down to earth' attitude makes his suspects feel comfortable, and they often reveal details they would normally withhold at all costs. A 95 percent case clearance rate attests to this fact.”
Selected as the Uniformed Officer of the Month for May was John Kelly of the Valley Area Command. Working exclusively in the Field Services Bureau, Kelly's work ethic and conduct far exceed his two years of law enforcement experience, according to APD.
“Officer Kelly is a self-motivator, always first to volunteer for priority calls received over the air on his car radio,” APD said. “His productivity is phenomenal and he is always a top producer in the squad. In a recent five-month period, he logged 111 misdemeanor citations, 477 moving citations, 30 DWI arrests, 23 felony arrests, 136 misdemeanor arrests and 539 calls for service.
A veteran of the Armed Forces, Kelly was stationed in Afghanistan prior to becoming a member of the Albuquerque Police Department.
“He demonstrates exceptional decision-making skills, and his demeanor remains unruffled in the face of even the most chaotic events,” APD added. “When calling for additional backup in a crisis situation he remains extremely calm, which encourages those around him to do the same.”
Flores and Kelly will receive two days off with pay, a check for $50 from the department, a check for $200 from the Albuquerque Police Officers Association, a gift certificate from Kaufman's West and Coronado Center, dinner for two courtesy of the Fraternal Order of Police, and both will be honored by several civic organizations.
2008 MISS INDIAN N.M. PAGEANT SLATED: The 2008 Miss Indian New Mexico Pageant is scheduled Aug. 2-3 at the Sky City Casino/Hotel in Acoma. Raine G. Vicente of Acoma Pueblo will give up her title with the crowning of this year's winner.
The pageant started in the early 1960s by a group of Bureau of Indian Affairs employees who recognized the need of scholarships for young Native Americans. The first pageant, known as “Miss O-Ween Gay,” was held in 1964. In 1968 it was renamed “Miss Indian New Mexico.” Since 1964, young Native American women from each tribe in New Mexico have competed for this prestigious title.
The winner of Miss Indian New Mexico will reign for one year, serving as a goodwill ambassador for all Native American people from New Mexico.
“She supports the preservation of Native American traditions, culture and language,” a pageant news release states. “She also promotes and models living a healthy lifestyle, with an emphasis on total abstinence of alcohol and drug use. In addition, Miss Indian New Mexico promotes her own personal platform which she chooses during the pageant competition.”
Any Native American woman ages 18-24 who meets the criteria is eligible to compete. For information or pageant application, visit the Web site www.missindiannewmexico.com.
Items and photographs for Around Town may be sent to Liz Otero, Albuquerque Journal, P.O. Drawer J, Albuquerque, NM 87103. Photographs will not be returned. Submission can be e-mailed with photo attachments to lotero@abqjournal.com. Phone, 823-3922.
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