BERNALILLO COUNTY, N.M. — Bernalillo County Undersheriff Johann Jareno has resigned over what Sheriff John Allen describes as an ongoing FBI inquiry that implicates Jareno in a DWI scheme involving local law enforcement.

Sheriff Allen confirmed Monday he requested and received Jareno’s resignation Sunday, a day after the FBI informed him of the inquiry.

“Given the seriousness of the investigation, I took immediate action to preserve the integrity of the Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office. To prevent any potential conflicts of interest and ensure our agency’s focus remains on our mission, I requested and received the resignation of Undersheriff Johann Jareno,” the sheriff wrote in a letter released Monday.

The sheriff said he is in full cooperation with the FBI and the U.S. Attorney’s Office. He expressed his disappointment with law enforcement in New Mexico.

“The ongoing DWI investigation has shed light on deep-seated issues in law enforcement that predate my administration, which began in January 2023. I am profoundly disappointed by these revelations, which undermine the hard-earned trust between the community and law enforcement,” he said.

The sheriff said BCSO is going to take a “thorough review” of its internal policies and procedures to prevent incidents like these in the future. He also said his office is creating an “Accountability and Compliance” role to “monitor and enforce ethical conduct within our ranks.”

“The trust between the public and law enforcement is sacred, and I am committed to actions that strengthen this bond. We will be proactive in strengthening this relationship through continuous improvement of our operational practices and technological capabilities. This includes enhancements to our monitoring of court attendances and other critical areas of our operations,” he said.

Jareno joined BCSO in March 2009. He served in the DWI Unit from December 2011 until October 2019 and became the Undersheriff in January 2023 when Allen became sheriff.

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