In November 2015, Sheriff Lucero was involved in a vehicle accident with his county-issued vehicle. He failed to report the crash and ordered actions to conceal it. When Lieutenant Hartigan reported this misconduct, Lucero retaliated by demoting Hartigan, threatening his law enforcement certification, and creating a hostile work environment. Hartigan filed a lawsuit alleging violations of the New Mexico Whistleblower Protection Act and age discrimination. The court found sufficient evidence to support claims of malfeasance and retaliation against Lucero.
[Return to blog post](https://watchaudits.com/sheriff-lucero-guadalupe-county-sheriffs-office/)
.
