Former Albuquerque officer Johnathan McDonnell takes on new peer support role

Former Albuquerque police officer Johnathan McDonnell now serves with a national law enforcement group following his termination. The volunteer assignment comes years after a fatal vehicle wreck involving a local family.

The collision occurred in April 2017 on Eubank. McDonnell traveled down the roadway on his way to a call. His vehicle crashed into a family.

The crash killed 6-year-old Joel Anthony Mumaw. McDonnell suffered a broken leg in the incident.

McDonnell had five preventable crashes already on his record. The department eventually fired him. The city settled with the family of the boy for $3.8 million.

“My speed was excessive,” McDonnell said in a deposition.

Now, McDonnell represents a national group called The Wounded Blue. Part of its mission is to advocate for the positive public perception of law enforcement. The founder confirmed McDonnell provides peer support as an unpaid volunteer.

He lends an ear to other wounded officers. The founder said the group has peer support volunteers based across the country. It is not clear if McDonnell appears in the documentary releasing next week.

Former officer Lou Golson spoke about the situation in Albuquerque. Golson was previously shot four times in the line of duty.

“Tragic, it is. I wouldn’t want to live with that,” Golson said.

Golson defended McDonnell during an interview with KRQE News 13.

“I think him being found at fault was politically motivated,” Golson said.

Attorneys for the family of Joel Anthony Mumaw previously criticized McDonnell. They said he refused to accept blame for the deadly wreck.

“Grievously continues to claim that he is actually the victim,” attorney David Jaramillo said.

Golson addressed critics of the former officer. He said McDonnell has answers on how to go through this process.

“He’s gone through a lot. This helps him as much as it does anyone else,” Golson said.

Peer support groups provide trained listeners for emergency personnel facing trauma. These programs often pair workers with individuals who share similar line-of-duty events.

The founder would not comment on McDonnell specifically, according to KRQE News 13 reports in Albuquerque.