A New Mexico police officer is facing serious charges after allegedly driving to work drunk — and reportedly admitting she had been “drinking all day.”
Maureen Lujan, 33, a senior officer with the Santa Fe Police Department, was arrested February 11 on an aggravated DWI charge, according to court records. She has pleaded not guilty, and it is unclear whether she has retained an attorney.
According to an incident report, the situation unfolded after a police sergeant became concerned when Lujan arrived at work appearing impaired. The sergeant told a deputy with the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office that Lujan had called earlier to say she would be late and sounded upset.
When she eventually arrived at the department, the sergeant reported that she smelled like alcohol and admitted she had been drinking.
A deputy who met with Lujan noted in the report that her eyes appeared “bloodshot and watery.” According to the document, she initially apologized and said she would cooperate with the investigation.
When asked what she had consumed, Lujan reportedly said she drank two Coors Light tall boys and had her last drink around 6:30 p.m. But the report states she also admitted to drinking throughout the day, starting around 11 a.m.
Authorities say she confirmed she had driven from her home in Rio Rancho to the Santa Fe Police Department that evening.
After field sobriety tests reportedly showed signs of impairment, she was arrested. Breathalyzer tests later indicated blood alcohol content levels of 0.19 and 0.18 — well above New Mexico’s threshold for aggravated DWI, which applies at 0.16 or higher.
Deputy Chief Ben Valdez said Lujan did not go into active duty once supervisors determined she was not fit for work and had no contact with the public. He confirmed she has been placed on administrative duty with no public contact pending the outcome of her criminal case and an internal investigation.
Lujan, who has worked for the department for two years, was released from custody the following day on her own recognizance. She is scheduled to return to court for a pretrial hearing on March 2.