OFF THE WIRE
Solomon Romero resigned Nov. 19 as a deputy with the department while an internal-affairs investigation was pending into allegations he embezzled money from his union.
New Mexico State Police Lt. Eric Garcia on Tuesday confirmed the department is "looking into wrongdoing allegations by an ex-employee of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office."
Garcia would not identify the target of the investigation because charges have not been filed, but The New Mexican has confirmed from multiple other sources that it is Romero, who also is a suspect in connection with missing money from the Los Carnales/La Familia motorcycle club, where he served as president until last week.
Attempts to reach Romero on Tuesday were unsuccessful.
Detecti ve James Yaeger, president of the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Association, said he and union treasurer Michael Delgado approached Romero, the union vice president, in October about money missing from an account at the State Employees Credit Union. All three men had debit cards allowing account access.
Yaeger said there were three inappropriate transactions Romero made — an $886 payment to his T-Mobile account, a $700 cash withdrawal and a $135 debit charge from an Española Walmart store.
Yaeger said he had authorized Romero to pull between $250 and $300 to give to a union member whose daughter was in need of medication.
"We sometimes use union money for situations like that — an officer in need," Yaeger said. "But he took money and never got it to the officer, and then we found out about these other issues."
Yaeger said Romero contended the withdrawals/debits were mistakes and he did eventually pay back the money.
"The crime was still committed," Yaeger said. "This is tough on me because Solomon was my friend and he has what it takes to be a good cop, but with this and with the recent (resignation of former Santa Fe County Sheriff) Greg Solano news, it sounds like a broken record: 'People in law enforcement can't be doing this. They should be held to a higher standard.' Now the rest of us who work hard and do things right have to just try to keep plugging away and put that shine back on the badge."
After discussion with fellow union members, Yaeger contacted state police about the situation.
Sheriff Robert Garcia acknowledged his department is still finalizing an internal-affairs investigation into the allegations from the union and the motorcycle club, which is open to "police officers and their civilian brothers," according to its website.
One member of that club who wished to remain anonymous suggested the club may be out several thousand dollars and suspects Romero was taking funds from the club in order to pay back what he had taken from the union. That club member confirmed Romero was stripped of his membership last week.
Los Carnales is a club that tries to improve the image of motorcycle clubs and help with civic volunteering and fundraising work. It recently held a motorcycle run from Española to the Santa Fe Plaza and back in an effort to collect winter coats for children.
Romero, who recently worked court security for the sheriff's department, sold dozens of T-shirts last months to employees around the First Judicial District Courthouse in downtown Santa Fe on behalf of the club to raise money for the Homes for Heroes campaign.
The Los Carnales website states: "We will not tolerate anyone who violates the law, nor tries to hide under the protection of our Colors."
Eric Garcia has not said if there is a timetable on when evidence in the state police investigation will be handed over the district attorney for review.
http://www.santafenewmexican.com/Local%20News/Deputy-accused-of-theft-resigns
