APD officer investigated for murder pulls in big bucks

April 19, 2011

Albuquerque's police chief fired officer Levi Chavez Monday after he failed to show up for a department meeting related to the murder indictment of his wife Tera Chavez. Chavez has collected $155,629 in pay since November of 2007, which includes both administrative leave pay and also reassignment to the animal welfare department. Police say while on administrative leave from November 19th, 2007 through July 31st, 2009, Chavez was paid $72,053. After August 1st, 2009, he was re-assigned to the Animal Welfare Department and paid a total $83,000 until his firing on Monday. At one point during his time at animal welfare, Chavez was making more than $25 an hour. We uncovered city payroll records that indicate Chavez was making more money than most employees in the department, including senior animal handlers and even some field supervisors. A city spokesperson says Chavez did odd jobs like cleaning animal cages and even scraped gum from sidewalks. He once served burritos during an employee appreciation event.