The Farmington Police Department released the names of four officers, who participated in an Oct. 6 SWAT operation that ended in a police-involved shooting on the Navajo Nation near Shiprock.

Those involved were Sgt. Matt Burns, a 12-year veteran of the department; officer James Prince, who was hired in 2016; Manuelito Benallie, hired in 2018; and Alvin Bencomo, hired in 2015.

“Sgt. Matt Burns discharged one round at the suspect,” and was placed on leave afterward, according to Shanice Gonzales, department spokesperson.

Farmington Police Chief Steve Hebbe said all four officers were interviewed by the Farmington Resident Agency of the FBI Albuquerque Field Office.

“The FBI has many interviews to do in this case, and we gave them a few extra days to complete those before releasing our officer's body camera footage,” Hebbe said. “This is standard for how FPD has handled shooting investigations in the past, with a goal of completing interviews before releasing video, which could potentially affect the investigation.”

The video footage is from Burns’ and Bencomo’s lapel cameras. The department also stated that the BearCat used in the incident was damaged by gunfire, and photos showing the damage were released.

The news release comes nearly 2½ weeks after Tri-City Record made an Oct. 9 Inspection of Public Records Request under the Freedom of Information Act seeking confirmation of the Farmington Police involvement in the shooting and the names of the officer or officers involved.

Sgt. Rachel DiScenza confirmed the department’s participation but would not disclose any information regarding the incident.

“Reports regarding the incident are not subject to release due to the ongoing investigation regarding this matter,” DiScenza said.

The New Mexico Foundation for Open Government learned about the matter and filed a complaint against the Farmington Police Department with the New Mexico Office of the Attorney General, because the documents are considered to be public records.

The Farmington Police Department then released the information, on Thursday.

“We are releasing all body camera footage to media outlets but not releasing this on our social media platforms,” Hebbe said.

He also addressed the fact that Farmington Police and the Navajo Nation Police Department do not have a memorandum of understanding, which allows police officers to cross jurisdictional borders to offer support.

Hebbe said it is “not an unusual request” to have Navajo Police ask for help, and he disclosed that he and other agencies met Thursday to discuss a memorandum of understanding.

“FPD has supported the Navajo Nation when they have called,” Hebbe said. “A common role is to provide our MRAP and BearCat armored vehicles to help keep their officers safe. This allows NPD officers to have some protection when they are out on a scene.”

Hebbe said both SWAT and the department’s K-9 teams have responded on the reservation.

In this case, the suspect reportedly shot a Navajo Nation Police officer and then “barricaded himself” inside a trailer, which caught fire. “This incident lasted nearly five hours and unfortunately ended with the death of the suspect, as well as a second NPD officer being injured from gunfire,” Hebbe stated.

Because the case was turned over the FBI, Hebbe said his “knowledge of the overall investigation is quite limited.”

Hebbe added he would “not be able to” provide “a comprehensive description of what happened overall in this incident.”

Hebbe said he was able to share how the four Farmington officers were involved.

Farmington officers deployed “a flashbang device and eventually multiple rounds of tear gas,” Hebbe said, adding that the suspect reportedly fired his gun at officers each time.

After the fire began in the trailer, the Navajo Nation Fire Department attempted to put it out. Navajo Nation Police provided them “with ballistic shields to keep the firemen safe,” Hebbe said.

Sgt. Burns “also grabbed a shield and moved forward to provide cover to the firemen,” Hebbe said, adding the suspect exited the trailer and at least one Navajo Police officer shot at him.

“Sgt. Burns stated he eventually saw the suspect was still armed and the gun was pointing toward officers,” Hebbe said, adding that Burns “fired one round.”

Navajo Police continued to fire their weapons, until Sgt. Burns “yelled ‘cease fire’ based on his belief the suspect was no longer a threat,” Hebbe said.

“Because of the nature of a multijurisdictional investigation, I do not know many of the key details in this case,” Hebbe said. “I do not know what NPD officers saw that caused them to open fire. I don’t know how many officers fired or how many rounds were fired.”

Hebbe stated that because so many rounds were fired “it is impossible to tell from the video which round or rounds was the fatal shot, and any suggestion that this can be determined at this stage of the investigation is simply untrue.”

Hebbe added that the suspect could have been hit multiple times and “only a thorough autopsy can settle what wounds proved fatal.”

The chief stated that Farmington officers “were at risk during this operation,” but they were there to “protect other officers and fireman at great personal risk.”

He also pointed out that the entire department “wishes the outcome in this case had been different and no one was killed. That doesn’t change the fact our officers did their best to protect people and work to assist NPD during a crisis.”