Language Access Implementation Committee

Deputy Chief Griego was born in New York to a father who was a native of El Rito NM and a mother who was an immigrant from Germany. Deputy Chief Griego has been with the Albuquerque since 1997 and has worked in the SE Area Command, Criminal Investigations, as the APD Academy Director and is currently the Deputy Chief of Support Services. Deputy Chief Griego is a Graduate of the FBI National Academy, The FBI Executive Leadership Institute, Law Enforcement Management Institute and others. Deputy Chief Griego is a member of the International Association of Chiefs of Police and is also serves on the IACP Technology Committee. Deputy Chief Griego’s passion for Language Access is rooted in personal family experiences as well as his experiences working as an Albuquerque Police Officer.

Originally from the state of Chihuahua in Mexico, Officer Villalobos immigrated to the state of New Mexico in 1997 and has been a resident of the city of Albuquerque for over 20 years. After working 10 years as a district manager in the retail and restaurant industry, he joined the Albuquerque Police Department in August of 2020 and is currently an officer with the Traffic Section, Motor Unit. Officer Villalobos obtained his bilingual certification from the department in Spanish and is currently part of the APD Ambassador program assigned to work with the Hispanic Community.

Originally from El Paso, Texas. Joseline grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México, and returned to the United States in 2003. She has been a New Mexico resident for 16 years. Joseline joined the Albuquerque Police Department in 2023 as a Language Access Coordinator after graduating with her Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of New Mexico. Joseline’s first language was Spanish and has lived experience with language and cultural barriers that limit accessibility to programs and services in the United States.

Beatriz is originally from Barranquilla, Colombia but grew up on a beautiful island in the Caribbean called San Andres. Since she has memory, Beatriz recalls being part of diverse cultures, languages, and religions. Her experience working with people from all walks of life and multiple nationalities has been continuous.

In the last four years, Beatriz has been working for the Office of Equity and Inclusion as the office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs Liaison. In this role, she has gained and applied knowledge related to cultural competency, and cultural humility, and she has helped implement the language access program for most city departments. At the same time, she has co-organized multiple venues to support the immigrant and refugee community. Beatriz is well-connected and has extensive experience in language access, health, education, environment, immigration, partnerships, and community outreach.

She has hosted, made presentations, and gained insight for visitors from multiple countries such as Serbia, Ukraine, Iraq, Colombia, India, Tajikistan, Latvia, Lithuania, Mexico, Nicaragua, Honduras, Guatemala, Venezuela, Peru, Bolivia, Chile, Brazil, Argentina, Rumania, Spain, Haiti, Dominican Republic, Brazil and more. These interactions resulted in new knowledge for both parties involved.

One of her favorite phrases is:

“In a globalized world… Language and Culture will be at the forefront of intercultural understanding, improvement of health, safety, education, civic, and community engagement outcomes”

Hi My name is Cathy Tenen I am not a native New Mexican but this is home after Plus 20 years- I was born in New Jersey and raised in Los Angeles California and my parents are from Ecuador in South America. I moved out here in 2001 after serving in the Air Force for 4 years and being stationed in the upper Pan handle of Florida when I joined at 19 years of age. I have been with the department for almost 18 years. I am currently a certified Bilingual 911 operator with APD.  fluent in English and Spanish. I am happy to be part of this Committee it has given me more insight on to how we all have a role to play in the Language Access and how it serves the community. it also allows us to brainstorm ideas or solutions to any challenges we encounter or identify s we join in the group and have our meetings. I feel I am an asset to the community cause of my in how I can serve as a first responder on the emergency calls to connect or Spanish speaking only community that has grown in multitude over the recent years. I feel like I can bridge gaps not only in emergency situations but bridge gaps of communication to educate them on resources available to them when needed.

Detective Justin Wingerd has been employed with the Albuquerque Police Department for the past ten years and currently serves in its Sex Crimes Unit. Prior to law enforcement, Detective Wingerd first learned Spanish while studying for his dual major bachelor’s degree from UNM in Spanish and criminology before later obtaining his master’s degree from UNM in political science where he studied Russian. Detective Wingerd also learned Mandarin Chinese during the course of his undergraduate program prior to studying abroad at Northwest University in Xi’an, China before furthering his language studies after moving to New Taipei, Taiwan. He is a certified Spanish speaker with APD and has served in various investigative capacities to assist in a wide array of violent crime investigations.

Donovan Rivera was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He attended the University of New Mexico and graduated in 1999 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminology. He joined the Albuquerque Police Department in July of 2000. Donovan was assigned to the Field Services Bureau for seven years as a patrolman and Field Training Officer.

Donovan was promoted to Sergeant in 2010. He was assigned to the Traffic Unit where he remained as a sergeant for three years. In 2015 he became a Nationally Certified Child Passenger Safety Instructor. He then took over the DWI Vehicle Forfeiture Unit until he was promoted to Lieutenant in 2016.

Donovan served as the DWI Section lieutenant until he was promoted to Commander in 2019. He then became the Traffic Division Commander until he retired in December of 2020.

Donovan returned to the Albuquerque Police Department in November of 2022.

Donovan has been assigned as the Commander to the Albuquerque International Sunport for the past two years.

Gisell de los Angeles Cereceres Barrera was born and raised in Albuquerque, New Mexico by immigrant parents from Chihuahua, Mexico. Growing up in a Spanish-speaking household, she developed a deep passion for language, culture, and helping her community. She pursued her education at the University of New Mexico, earning two Bachelor's degrees in Linguistics and Portuguese with a minor in Spanish in 2022. She continued her academic journey and received her Master of Arts in Spanish with a concentration in Hispanic Linguistics in 2024.

During her undergraduate studies, Gisell worked with the City of Albuquerque’s childcare programs, primarily in bilingual elementary schools, supporting children in educational and after school activities. In her final year of undergraduate through her graduate studies, she worked at UNM's Women's Resource Center as the Administrator, where she coordinated programming, social events, and support services for students and staff. Gisell joined the Albuquerque Police Department in June 2024 as a Temp Language Access Program Specialist before transitioning to a permanent role in September 2024 as a Language Access Police Records Technician. Driven by her personal experiences and passion for language access, she is committed to bridging communication barriers between the community and APD.

Her professional interests include bilingualism, signed languages, phonology, child language development, culturally and linguistically diverse communities, and forensic linguistics.

Pearlyne Coriz is a proud member of the Santo Domingo Pueblo in New Mexico. She is a graduate of the Institute of American Indian Arts, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. With a strong commitment to serving her community, Pearlyne joined the Albuquerque Police Department in November of 2024 as a Language Access Police Records Technician. Her diverse background, speaking her Native language of Keres, and dedication to both the arts and public service reflect her deep-rooted connection to her heritage and a passion for making a positive impact.

Born and raised in Albuquerque, NM, I have a deep appreciation for family and the diverse cultures that enrich our communities. My upbringing was significantly influenced by my parents. I am proud to be the child of hardworking, loving hispanic parents which has deeply shaped my understanding of the struggles and significance of language access. I hold my bilingual seal on my high school diploma, reflecting my commitment to bridging language barriers and advocating for inclusive communication.

On December 16, 2024, I joined the Albuquerque Police Department's Language Access Team, where I am excited to leverage my passion for cultural diversity and communication. I am dedicated to facilitating access and support for all individuals, ensuring that language barriers do not hinder our community's safety and well-being.I have an extensive background working with people of all ethnicities and cultures. I believe that language is a powerful tool for connection.

I am a proud native New Mexican who has lived in various states, but I’m back home for good, where I’m dedicated to serving and advocating for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. Currently, I work as a Community Education Specialist at the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing. In this role, I collaborate with organizations, including the Albuquerque Police Department, to provide essential sensitivity training around hearing loss, ensuring better understanding and communication within the community. Additionally, I have been involved in revising the APD Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) to create more inclusive practices for individuals with hearing loss in Albuquerque.

With a passion for accessibility and education, I am committed to making New Mexico a more inclusive and informed state for people with hearing loss.