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.

Joseline Segovia was born in El Paso, Texas, and raised in Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua, México. Her first language is Spanish. She returned to the United States in 2002 and has called New Mexico home for the past 16 years. In 2023, she joined the Albuquerque Police Department as the Language Access Coordinator, following the completion of her Master’s degree in Linguistics from the University of New Mexico.

With over eight years of experience in the language field, Joseline has conducted research on many languages and communities, bringing both academic insight and lived experience to her work. Her deep understanding of linguistic and cultural barriers fuels her commitment to equity and inclusion.

Joseline is passionate about building community-centered approaches to reduce language barriers in law enforcement and increase awareness of linguistic and racial bias. Her expertise supports the development of policies and practices that promote meaningful, multilingual communication and ensure equitable access to public safety services for all.

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”

Cathy Tenen is not a native New Mexican, but after more than 20 years, she proudly calls it home. Born in New Jersey and raised in Los Angeles, California, Cathy comes from Ecuadorian roots her parents are originally from South America. She moved to New Mexico in 2001 after serving four years in the U.S. Air Force, having been stationed in the Florida Panhandle after enlisting at the age of 19.

Cathy has been with the Albuquerque Police Department for nearly 18 years and currently serves as a certified bilingual 911 operator, fluent in both English and Spanish. Her role as a first responder allows her to bridge critical communication gaps during emergencies, especially for the growing Spanish-speaking community in Albuquerque.

As a member of the Language Access Committee, Cathy brings valuable insight and perspective. She sees the committee not only as a platform for collaboration and problem-solving but also as a vital part of ensuring equitable access to resources. Cathy considers herself an asset to the community, committed to connecting individuals with the services they need and helping improve communication across cultures.

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.

Roger is a proud native New Mexican who has lived in various states, but he’s now back home for good, dedicated to serving and advocating for the Deaf and hard-of-hearing community. He currently works as a Community Education Specialist at the New Mexico Commission for Deaf and Hard of Hearing, where he collaborates with organizations, including the Albuquerque Police Department to provide essential sensitivity training around hearing loss. His work helps foster greater understanding and more effective communication within the community.

In addition to his outreach efforts, Roger has contributed to revising the APD Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs), helping to create more inclusive practices for individuals with hearing loss in Albuquerque.

With a deep passion for accessibility and public education, Roger is committed to making New Mexico a more inclusive and informed state for people with hearing loss.