PoS alert

[BLUEHAWK]

N.M. Cop Allegedy Faked Being a Brigader General

By Rene Romo, Journal Southern Bureau
Albuquerque Journal

LAS CRUCES - Before he resigned from the Ruidoso Police Department last week, Christopher "Corky" Condon had portrayed himself to his boss, colleagues, members of the community and military as a brigadier general in the Army Reserves. Condon, wearing a brigadier general's uniform, was publicly recognized at ceremonies honoring the military in Ruidoso last May, at a 9/11 memorial event and at an air show at Holloman Air Force Base in Alamogordo on

Oct. 24, police and local residents said. But an FBI investigation concluded that Condon was not a brigadier general and was not a current member of the Army Reserve, according to an arrest warrant affidavit. Condon was arrested by State Police on Monday evening on four felony counts of fraud and two felony counts of forgery for allegedly receiving city paychecks totalling $8,177.97 while pretending to be on leave for Army Reserve training over the last four years.

Condon was released from the Lincoln County Detention Center on Tuesday following a first appearance in Magistrate Court.

He could not be reached for comment Tuesday.

"I never doubted him. I would never expect anything like that out of one of our officers," Ruidoso Police Chief Wolfgang Born said Tuesday. "I think everybody here is just surprised and shocked. It's a shame. He's a good man. I'm not sure what his reasoning was in all of this."

Twelfth Judicial District Attorney Diana Martwick did not return calls for comment. A detention center spokesman said Condon will be required to wear a surveillance bracelet within 10 days.

The 44-year-old Condon, who previously worked for the Ruidoso Downs Police Department, was hired by the Ruidoso Police Department in late March 2000. Until his abrupt resignation on Dec. 7, Condon, who reached the rank of corporal, had been a school resource officer at Ruidoso High School.

When he was hired by Ruidoso police, Condon said he was "still an active member of the Army Reserves and would be required to attend annual training during the year," according to an arrest warrant affidavit filed by the DA's investigator.

During the four years starting in 2006, Condon received four checks - for $2,519.92, $2,158.59, $2,223.63 and $1,275.83 - while taking annual leave for what he said was required Reserve training that he said at times would last as long as 23 days.

During 2006 and 2007, police officials did not require Condon to submit paperwork documenting his Reserve training orders. When paperwork was requested in 2008 and this year, Condon provided forged military orders, according to the criminal complaint.

Born said Condon turned in convincing documents. "I wouldn't know the difference," Born said. "I never expect any of our employees to do anything like what he's accused of. There has to be a little trust. ... Sometimes you get fooled." According to records with the St. Louis-based Army Human Resources Command, Condon was discharged from the Army in April 1993 with the rank of sergeant, spokesman Ray Gall said.

Condon, originally from Nogal, enlisted in April 1985 and served as a military policeman.

Having heard that a Ruidoso police officer was a brigadier general, Alto resident Millie Woods, president of the Military Appreciation Week Committee, a community group that plans events to honor the military, invited Condon to be a member of the board about three months ago. "We thought it would be advantageous to have a general, a star, on the board," Woods said. "Not a clue why he would do such a thing."

Questions began to arise about the officer after he attended an air show at Holloman Air Force Base wearing a brigadier general's uniform in late October, Born said. The FBI had received complaints concerning Condon's military service and rank. Born did not know the source of the complaints.

Paul Sanchez, a retired Air Force master sergeant who met Condon last May at a Ruidoso ceremony, said he rode motorcycles with the thenofficer in a "missing man" ceremony at Holloman, and later introduced Condon around the base.

Sanchez said he felt betrayed by Condon as a friend and as a former member of the military. "It is horrendous and heinous, claiming military rank that you don't have," Sanchez said.

Born said the case has also been referred to the U.S. Attorney's Office.

[MORTARDUDE]

Unbelievable !!!

Larry