Cops on leave after altercation
Two NMSP officers accused of drunken encounter with APD

By Tom Purdom
Staff Writer

GALLUP — Two rookie New Mexico State Police officers found out the hard way off-duty cops are only off duty, and they may have ruined their careers in the process.

Saul A. Canizales, 28, with the Milan Substation of the New Mexico District 6 State Police, and Thomas Morrissey, 30, with the State Police in Farmington, have been placed on administrative duty pending the outcome of an internal State Police investigation.

Meanwhile, Albuquerque Police are investigating as well because it was Duke City cops who were the target of alleged verbal and physical abuse, reportedly by Morrissey and Canizales, in the early morning hours Sunday in front of a bar on Central Avenue.

Both officers are little more than rookie cops, each having been on duty less than nine months.

Morrissey is charged with disorderly conduct and resisting arrest, both misdemeanor charges.

Canizales, however, faces a fourth-degree felony of battery upon a peace officer.

New Mexico State Police Spokesman Jimmy Glascock said he will not discuss facts of the case because the state police is conducting an investigation; however, he did say Canizales and Morrissey are serving in non-police functions with the state police.

"They will not be in direct contact with the public and they have relinquished their authority as police officers pending the outcome of the internal investigation," Glascock said.

Glascock did not know how long the investigation will take, but said it should be a quick one.

"The department has expedited the investigation," Glascock said.

Because there are criminal charges filed, Canizales' and Morrissey's jobs are on the line. "The department will take the appropriate action based on the findings of the investigation," Glascock said.

Not much is known about Canizales' role in the alleged incident, other than the felony charge of battery upon a peace officer.

The events unfolded after Morrissey and Canizales, both off-duty and in civilian clothes, decided to go to Albuquerque for an evening on the town Saturday. The two ended up on Central Avenue, a street with several bars.

According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court in Bernalillo County, two Albuquerque Police Department officers were walking on foot patrol on Central Avenue from Foutth Street. One officer wrote in his report, "As we neared 312 Central, we heard someone yell, "A.P.D. m..... f......."'

The Albuquerque cop wrote: "We turned around and saw a man looking at us saying, 'Yeah, you heard me m..... f.......!' "

The individual allegedly was Morrissey. The two APD officers walked up to Morrissey and told him to "keep it down and stop swearing" or he would be arrested, according to the criminal complaint.

At that point Morrissey reportedly took out his wallet, showed the two Albuquerque cops his badge, and again, allegedly using vulgarities, said he was a state officer, to which the APD officer told Morrissey that even if he was an officer he needed to watch his mouth in public. According to the report, at that point, Morrissey reportedly told the two Albuquerque cops to not get an attitude with him. "I'm state and you're only a city cop," Morrissey allegedly told the two.

Morrissey was arrested, after which he reportedly tried to fight with the APD officers, the report states.

At some point Canizales allegedly pushed one of the officers and was arrested.

Metro Court records only show the two state police officers were arrested, one for misdemeanor charges and one for a felony charge.

Canizales' and Morrissey's versions of the events are not being revealed at this time.

In the meantime, state police officers at the Milan State Police Substation are saying nothing about the alleged incident.

"Before we were police officers, we were citizens. Everyone is expected to respect authority and uphold the police. This holds true for officers off duty as well," Glascock said.