State inspector sacked over arrest
SANTA FE (KRQE) - The New Mexico Public Regulation Commission voted late Tuesday to fire a state Fire Marshal's Office code inspector recently arrested for DWI.
An off-duty Albuquerque Police sergeant reported spotting Juan Romero, 42, driving his state vehicle erratically Saturday eastbound on Montgomery Boulevard.
Romero was later arrested in the parking lot of an Albuquerque apartment complex.
Results of a breath-alcohol test administered after the arrest registered at or above 0.16, according to a criminal complaint.
"It's a tarnish on the pride that we take in the work that we do," State Fire Marshal John Standifer told KRQE News 13. "We take it very serious."
Standifer and the Public Regulation Commission both said they did not know Romero had been convicted on another DWI charge in 2003. Romero pleaded no-contest in the case.
He was fired from the Los Alamos Fire Department because of that case, sources told News 13.
"Information given to us was that there had never been a conviction on that," Standifer said.
The fire marshal met with public regulation commissioners Tuesday to consider emergency personnel action against Romero. The Fire Marshal's Office is an agency of the PRC.
After a closed-door meeting at the PRC chambers in Santa Fe commissioners decided to fire him.
"We cannot have people that are not up to their best in those positions," Public Regulation Commission Vice-chairman David King said. "These people have these vehicles assigned.
"It's a high level of responsibility."
Romero's job duties included driving his state-issued vehicle across New Mexico to inspect existing buildings and new construction.
Court records show a long list of convictions for traffic violations including careless driving, speeding, disobeying no passing zones and the 2003 charge of aggravated DWI.
He also pleaded guilty to a charge of possession of a controlled substance in 1997.
Romero has 11 days worth of paid leave to challenge the PRC's decision to fire him.