Undercover Narcotics Officer Rick Ramsdale Charged with Trafficking

A 46-year-old Alamogordo Department of Public Safety undercover narcotics agent was arrested for suspected trafficking of cocaine Saturday, an ADPS spokesman said.

ADPS Director Sam Trujillo said officer Rick Ramsdale is charged with trafficking by possession with intent to distribute.

Trujillo said the New Mexico State Police searched Ramsdale's home and found 1.3 pounds of suspected cocaine.

He said his department is continuing its own internal investigation of Ramsdale.

Trujillo said state police continues its own investigation of Ramsdale's suspected possession of cocaine.

According to Otero County Detention Center records, Ramsdale was released from OCDC on a $50,000 bail bond with no ten percent to appear in court April 22.

"Narcotics agents were conducting a surveillance investigation on an unrelated case Friday," Trujillo said. "One agent noticed the erratic behavior of Ramsdale that's what alerted the agent, something was wrong."

He said Ramsdale was transported to a local hospital for an evaluation.

Trujillo said the drug test at the hospital indicates the presence of cocaine.

"There was no indication prior to Ramsdale's behavior," he said. "We contacted the state police because we believe a crime has been committed by one of our employees."

Trujillo said the two investigations being conducted were initiated by his department.

"Ramsdale has been placed on administrative leave without pay pending a termination hearing," he said. "He was arrested by state police after being released from the hospital."

Detective Lt. Lee Wilder said they conducted an internal investigation.

"We notified the District Attorney's office," Wilder said. "The DA's office notified the state police. It would be unethical for us to truly investigate our own officer."

Trujillo said it is disturbing that ADPS had an officer arrested for suspected criminal activity.

"We do have to police our own," he said. "I do have to commend the other narcotics agents for stepping forward and making sure this did not continue."

Ramsdale started working as a undercover narcotics officer five weeks ago. He has worked as patrol officer at ADPS for one year. He was an Otero County Sheriff's Department deputy for five years prior to working at ADPS.