NEW MEXICO - Santa Fe police officer under investigation for possible gang ties

OFF THE WIRE
Nico Roesler | The New Mexican

A Santa Fe police officer is being investigated for possible connections to an outlaw motorcycle gang.
Chief Ray Rael confirmed this week that the department is conducting an internal investigation into Officer Ben Chavarria and his possible affiliation with the Bandidos Motorcycle Club. Chavarria, assigned to the department’s community relations department, was investigated once before on similar allegations.
Rael said the current investigation began in November 2012, when an obituary for Stevan Roybal, who died Nov. 19, 2012, appeared in The New Mexican listing Roybal as “a PROUD member of the Bandidos MC” and Chavarria as an honorary pallbearer.
KRQE-TV reported that Chavarria then posted on Facebook about Roybal, saying Roybal was his “best friend,” and “I spent many a night riding Harleys with him. He made me the biker I am.”
Chavarria wouldn’t comment on the allegations under advice from his attorney. Chavarria has remained in his role as a community relations officer since the investigation began.
“Once the investigation is completed, we will decide what appropriate action, if any, will be taken,” Rael said. “Current policy prohibits officers from affiliating with known criminal organizations.”
In 2009, Chavarria was suspended for 40 hours for violating department policy on the same allegations, Rael said.
Linda Flatt, founder of the Las Acequias Neighborhood Watch program, says she has known Chavarria for almost a decade. She said Chavarria explained to her that Rivera was a close friend to him growing up, but the two took different paths in their lives when Rivera openly joined the Bandidos.
Flatt said Chavarria told her he attended Rivera’s funeral, despite knowing that it was organized by the Bandidos, simply to pay respects to Rivera’s family, whom he had known most of his life.
Flatt said the recent allegations are “outlandish.”
Chavarria helped begin Santa Fe police’s Shop with a Cop program, which helps families in need during the holiday season, and has served on the regional board for Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern New Mexico. Chavarria also recently completed his second term as president of the Santa Fe Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.
Flatt said Chavarria puts in hours of volunteer time helping Neighborhood Watch communities around the city.
“He really cares about the people and the community,” Flatt said. “He’s an outstanding officer.”
The Bandidos Motorcycle Club is considered by federal authorities to be a worldwide criminal organization. Designated as one of the “Big Four” outlaw motorcycle gangs in the United States, according to the FBI, the Bandidos are listed along with Hell’s Angels, the Pagans and the Outlaws.
The Bandidos describe themselves as a motorcycle club, but they are not sanctioned by the American Motorcyclist Association.
“It’s my professional understanding that they are an organized criminal organization that’s been involved in everything from narcotics trafficking to drug and gun trafficking,” Rael said Friday.
Contact Nico Roesler at 986-3089 or nroesler@sfnewmexican.com.