Mayor Richard J. Berry Recognizes Detective Who Solved More Than a Dozen Property Crimes Within a Week

September 10, 2010

On Friday Albuquerque Mayor Richard J. Berry recognized an Albuquerque Detective who solved several property crimes within a week.

Detective Jodi Gonterman, was named this week’s Friday’s Hero. Each week Mayor Richard J. Berry recognizes at least one public safety employee who goes above the call of duty.

“Detective Gonterman’s work has undoubtedly prevented more people from becoming victims of a property crime,” Mayor Berry said. “Detective Gonterman’s efforts support our commitment to make Albuquerque a bad place to be a criminal.”

On Aug. 20, Gonterman, a nine-year police veteran, was assigned to investigate the theft of a $7,000 platinum diamond ring. The victim had hired a moving company to assist her in moving into her new home. While preparing for the move, the victim removed the ring from her hand and put it into a drawer. After the movers had completed their work, she discovered the ring was missing.

Detective Gonterman contacted several pawn shops in the area and was able to find the ring. Using information from the pawn shop, the detective was then able to link the sale of the ring to one of the moving company’s employees. The ring has been returned to the victim and a warrant was issued for the offender.

In a separate operation, on August 31, Detective Gonterman coordinated a sting operation after learning that 17 cars had been broken into in one evening on the city’s Northeast Side. Gonterman and fellow detective Brian Lund worked with the night detectives and northeast field officers. The group of officers set up a sting operation resulting in the apprehension of multiple suspects who were in possession of numerous items that were reported stolen from the 17 vehicles.