By KRWG News
Albuquerque – A New Mexico State Police Department has fired an officer caught on camera having sex with a woman on the hood of a car.
The Santa Fe New Mexican (http://bit.ly/oIqKyd) says it confirmed the dismissal of officer Bert Lopez. The newspaper says Lopez has 30 days to appeal the firing.
The eight-year veteran was put on paid administrative leave after security camera photographs of the encounter at the remote county-owned Canyon Ranch near Santa Fe surfaced several weeks ago.
The images were initially sent to state police by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Department and an internal investigation was started.
Police officials won't comment on whether the change in Lopez's employment status was an indication whether the officer was in fact on duty at the time of the incident.
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Information from: The Santa Fe New Mexican, http://www.sfnewmexican.com
Copyright 2011 The Associated Press.