Mayor Recognizes Albuquerque Police Department
Officer As This Week’s Friday’s Hero

May 14, 2010

Field officer’s keen observation skills result in apprehension of repeat offender

On Friday, Mayor Richard J. Berry honored APD Officer Yvonne Martinez as this week’s Friday’s Hero for her efforts to seek out a suspect who had just carried out a residential burglary.

Yesterday morning Officer Martinez was working her regular shift when she responded to a residential burglary call on General Macarthur NW. As she entered the area, she spotted a truck and driver matching the description given by a witness. The subject got out of the truck and appeared to be attempting to make small talk with a neighbor nearby. Undeterred, Officer Martinez pursued her investigation of the subject. She broadcast a detailed description and called for backup. She then approached the suspect but he fled over a large fence. Officer Martinez got a closer look at the truck and noticed what was believed to be stolen property inside. The air support unit was called in and located an individual matching the description running from the area. When they lost a visual on the subject, K9 and other specialty units were called in for the search. A K9 quickly keyed on a closed garage door at a home nearby and a search of the garage resulted in the apprehension of suspect Leroy Mares.

Leroy Mares confessed to committing at least three burglaries that same day. He is a career criminal with a long history of arrests dating back to 1985. It has only been a month since his last arrest for a different property crime offense.

“I have stated repeatedly that property crimes are a plague on our community and career criminals must be stopped,” said Mayor Berry. “I recognize we will only be successful in this goal because of the dedicated and professional work of our Albuquerque Police officers. Officer Martinez has taken this call to action seriously and it is thanks to her skilled efforts that another repeat offender is off the street.”