Thursday, November 19, 2009

Sgt. Charged in DWI; Other in Fight Probe

By Rozanna M. Martinez
Copyright © 2009 Albuquerque Journal
      Two longtime Rio Rancho police officers facing internal investigations recently retired following off-duty incidents.
       Chris Pino turned in his retirement notice Nov. 12 before the Rio Rancho Police Department could launch an investigation into his DWI arrest earlier this month in Albuquerque, police spokesman John Francis said. As traffic sergeant, Pino oversaw all traffic related issues, including DWI enforcement. He had been with the department for 17 1/2 years, Francis said.
       And Deputy Chief Scott Kellogg retired late last month after the department initiated an internal investigation into a fight he was allegedly involved in during a September concert at Journal Pavilion. Kellogg had been with the department for 20 years and therefore was eligible for retirement, Police Chief Robert Boone said.
       Pino was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving Nov. 6 after he and another motorcyclist were allegedly speeding on 12th Street in Albuquerque. Pino and the other motorcyclist smelled of alcohol and failed field sobriety tests, Albuquerque police spokeswoman Nadine Hamby said.
       Pino had blood-alcohol concentrations of 0.13 and 0.12, she said.
       He was placed on administrative leave after Albuquerque police notified Rio Rancho police of the arrest. Pino later gave his notice of retirement.
       Prior to his job in Rio Rancho, Pino worked with the University of New Mexico Police Department, Boone said.
       Pino's case is pending in Bernalillo County Metropolitan Court.
       In the Kellogg incident, a State Police officer tried to break up a fight between Kellogg and an unknown man, according to a Sheriff's Department report.
       Kellogg “instigated the altercation” and was later restrained by security personnel, the officer told authorities.
       However, Kellogg said he was struck in the face by a man, according to his written statement to authorities.
       Kellogg's wife said she tried to stop Kellogg from helping security subdue a subject, according to her written statement.
       The others involved in the fight were not located or identified.
       Boone said the investigation of the alleged fight was conducted by an outside agency based on information obtained from the Bernalillo County Sheriff's Department.
       “I wanted to meet with (Kellogg), but before we had an opportunity to meet, he gave me his retirement notice,” Boone said. “He retired while the investigation was ongoing.”
       

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