In 1996, it was reported that the New Mexico State Police, then under the direction of Darren White, used forfeited drug money to buy fencing, furniture and a lawn mower. The funds were supposed to go back into the war on drugs.

In addition to the fences and lawn mowers, it was found that White’s Department of Public Safety used some of New Mexico’s federal drug enforcement money to buy luxury cars for White, his deputy secretary and two other members of his staff.

White had purchased four 1995 Ford Crown Victorias – at a cost of $66,140 – and charged them to the federal drug grants. White said that he needed the car to commute between his home in Albuquerque and Santa Fe.

“The majority of my travel, especially out-of-town travel, is consumed by administration of these [drug enforcement] grants,” White said.

State legislators argued that White may have violated the law:

In 1996, New Mexico state legislators argued that White, in his capacity as Secretary of the Department of Public Safety, was violating the law by driving an unmarked police car.

New Mexico state law said that state vehicles had to be marked with a state logo and a government license plate unless they were being used for legitimate undercover law enforcement purposes.

White’s 1995 black state-owned Crown Victoria lacked both a state logo and a state license plate.

“He’s not a police officer anymore,” State Rep. David Pederson said. “Maybe somebody needs to remind him of that.”

Sources: Albuquerque Tribune, 1/30/96, Albuquerque Tribune, 1/26/96, Santa Fe New Mexican, 4/10/96