2024 Rewind: APD DWI Corruption Case; Juneteenth

This week on New Mexico in Focus, we return to some of our favorite stories from 2024.  

In this interview that first ran in March, Executive Producer Jeff Proctor speaks with U.S. Attorney Alexander Uballez about the federal investigation into alleged corruption at the Albuquerque Police Department’s DWI Unit. As this episode airs in mid-December, no charges have been announced, but seven APD officers have resigned instead of submitting to Internal Affairs interviews. A commander has also been fired, and two other officers remain on leave pending internal investigation. 

Senior Producer Lou DiVizio speaks with a group of New Mexico Black community leaders and elders, who tell us about the importance of celebrating Juneteenth. In the first of three conversations that originally aired in June, Lou asks Joe and Rita Powdrell about the roots of Juneteenth celebrations in New Mexico. Then, Ron Wallace talks about his work covering Black communities at the magazine he founded, The Perspective, before Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell tells Lou about the importance of protecting Juneteenth festivities from becoming commercialized. 

Correspondent Andy Lyman interviews documentarian Doug Fine about his film, “American Hemp Farmer.” In this segment that first aired in June, Fine tells us why New Mexico is uniquely positioned to benefit hemp farmers. 

Host: Lou DiVizio

Segments: 

U.S. Attorney Sheds Light on Process of APD DWI Corruption Case 
Correspondent: Jeff Proctor 
Guest: Alexander Uballez, U.S. Attorney, District of New Mexico 

Celebrating Juneteenth in NM 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: Joe Powdrell, Director, Juneteenth Albuquerque 1976-1989 
Rita Powdrell, President, African American Museum and Cultural Center of NM 
Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 
Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho 

How Juneteenth Brings Generations of Black New Mexicans Together 
Correspondent: Lou DiVizio 
Guests: Marsha K. Hardeman, Professor, Africana Studies, University of New Mexico 
Rev. Dr. Charles E. Becknell, Sr., Pastor Emeritus of Emmanuel Baptist Church, Rio Rancho 
Ron Wallace, Publisher, ‘The Perspective’ 
Tim Green IV, Culture Change Leader, City of Albuquerque 

The Benefits of Hemp & Hemp Farming in New Mexico 
Correspondent: Andy Lyman 
Guest: Doug Fine, Filmmaker