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Tuesday, June 30, 2009
Former State Cop Loses Certification
By Rene Romo
Journal Southern Bureau
RUIDOSO — A former Alamogordo undercover cop who was arrested last March after fellow officers found him in possession of 1.3 pounds of cocaine has lost his State Police officer certification.
The New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy Board on Monday agreed to revoke the certification of Richard Ramsdale, who was arrested March 21 after displaying "erratic behavior" during an undercover surveillance operation.
Fellow officers, concerned about Ramsdale's "paranoid" behavior, disarmed him and took him to a local hospital where he tested positive for cocaine. Police also found a backpack in Ramsdale's undercover vehicle containing 1.3 pounds of cocaine, according to a report on Ramsdale's case submitted to the Law Enforcement Academy Board.
Ramsdale is facing a September jury trial on a pending felony charge of drug trafficking by possession.
The Law Enforcement Academy Board report said that despite being an undercover officer, Ramsdale "was not on a departmentally sanctioned operation involving the cocaine and drug paraphernalia in his possession and had no permission to possess such items."
It also said he appeared to be "experiencing delusions" about being followed before he was taken into custody.
Ramsdale did not appear at the LEA board's meeting at the Ruidoso Convention Center on Monday to contest the recommendation to revoke his certification.
Ramsdale, who was previously employed as an Otero County sheriff's deputy, resigned from the Alamogordo police force on March 30 and was not employed as a police officer as of Monday.
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