By: ABQ RAW Staff
POSTED 04/25/2023 @ 11:45AM
Dukes’ Tinder profile and Rico Dukes booking mug from MDC
Albuquerque, NM – On April 24, 2023, Rico TreShon Dukes, 26, was arrested by Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office detectives for impersonating a BCSO deputy while also carrying a loaded firearm and loaded magazines. Dukes was busted wearing a shirt with a cloth BCSO badge on the front and two shoulder patches that are typically worn by uniformed personnel. He was also seen wearing a hat featuring a badge that is actually no longer authorized for use by BCSO uniformed personnel.
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According to a criminal complaint, Dukes messaged a woman who turned out to be a Bernalillo County employee on the dating app. The woman then alerted the Sheriff’s office about the impersonation when she did not recognize him as an actual deputy. Dukes went on to claim he also worked with APD and bragged about operations he was part of:
“I did one year with APD that was horrible so I lateraled over to BCSO.”
“I work everything south of i40 and east of 98th and the warzone as well but if busy enough
I’ll be out near US550 and the casino, Rio, tramway, everywhere I” (SIC)
According to detectives, Dukes had posted several pictures on his Tinder dating profile posing as a BCSO deputy, including one where he was wearing a duty belt with a firearm. He even posted a photo of a random fully marked patrol unit, falsely claiming it was his own.
The complaint goes on to say, deputies met up with Dukes at a local restaurant and he was wearing a black polo with BCSO shoulder patches, a BCSO pen-flex badge displayed on the left chest, a black hat with an older BCSO patch, a duty belt complete with a 9mm Glock 17, and four (4) magazines (3 extras loaded with bullets). He was then interviewed by detectives, Dukes stated he purchased the department polo and hat from Kaufman’s West several months prior. To purchase the uniform, Dukes stated he advised Kaufman’s he was going to make promotional videos for BCSO. Kaufman’s West is a military and law enforcement uniform/accessory vendor and public store in Albuquerque.
PATREON MEMBERS CAN READ THE FULL COMPLAINT HERE: patreon.com/posts/82040694
Dukes has been charged with impersonating a public official and unauthorized wearing of a uniform or badge. He has an extensive criminal history and has had previous contact with law enforcement. The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with additional encounters or information regarding this case or other individuals involved to contact BCSO dispatch at (505) 798-7000 where they should ask for the BCSO Special Victims Unit.