The latest statistics from the FBI Uniform Crime Reporting Program show that between 2018 and 2019, violent crime in New Mexico decreased about 1.1%, from 17,637 incidents in 2018 to 17,450 incidents in 2019.
These positive crime stats reflect hiring efforts by some of New Mexico’s largest cities. For example, the Albuquerque Police Department announced plans to add some 400 officers to its police force in the coming years. The City Council approved a 2019 budget that would provide the police department with an additional $205 million to handle the expense of adding more officers.
These types of significant recruitment efforts spell opportunity for aspiring law enforcement officers, whether at the state, municipal, or county level. Those with an unwavering commitment to justice and integrity and who are able to meet the requirements and demands associated with becoming a law enforcement officer can become valuable members of New Mexico’s dedicated law enforcement community.
Jobs with the New Mexico State Police
Originally established in 1905 as the New Mexico Mounted Police, the New Mexico State Police employ 276 uniformed officers to investigate, prevent, detect, and disrupt violent criminals and those who would commit felonies in New Mexico.
Trooper applicants must be 21 years old and must possess a high school diploma or GED. Applicants must have either completed 60 credit hours of college credit (equivalent to an associate’s degree), or otherwise can attend the Law Enforcement Academy and receive 30 credit hours from San Juan College. In that case, they are given two years to obtain the remaining 30 credit hours. Applicants who happen to have 30 credit hours in the beginning, can obtain the rest from attending the Academy.
Selected applicants become candidates who go on to take a physical fitness test, and then if they pass, a written test the same day. Training for officers is provided by the New Mexico State Police Training and Recruiting Bureau.
Jobs with Sheriff’s Departments in New Mexico
Sheriff’s deputies in New Mexico serve in some 33 county sheriff’s offices in the state. It is the job of these law enforcement officials to provide patrol services and, in many cases, court security, corrections oversight, and backup for municipal and state agencies. Sheriff’s deputies often work in specialized units and divisions, such as SWAT, investigations, and motorcycle units.
Bernalillo County
The Bernalillo County Sheriff’s Department provides a number of law enforcement services for the citizens of Bernalillo County. The Department has a Metro Air Unit, a SWAT Team, and an extensive Criminal Services Division that provides Crime Scene Investigations.
Individuals interested in becoming a sheriff’s deputy in Bernalillo County must be 21 years old before they graduate from the academy and must have a high school diploma or GED. They must pass two written exams, a physical agility test, and polygraph, psychological, and medical examinations.
Sandoval County
The Sandoval County Sheriff’s Department provides law enforcement, animal control services, and court security to residents of the county. In municipalities within the county, the Sheriff’s Department has concurrent jurisdiction.
Sheriff’s deputy job applicants in Sandoval County must be 21 years old, be U.S. citizens, and have a high school diploma or GED. They must have completed the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy or have had equivalent training.
Santa Fe County
In addition to general patrol duties, the deputy sheriffs in Santa Fe County may work out of a number of divisions, including the Accident Investigation & Reconstruction Division, court security services, the Criminal Investigations Division, the DUI/DRE Unit, the Narcotics Division, and more.
To become a sheriff’s deputy in Santa Fe County, candidates must have a high school diploma or GED and be 21 years old by the time the 22 weeks of training in the academy is completed.
Jobs with Municipal Police Departments in New Mexico
Crime within city boundaries in New Mexico is often much higher than other areas of the state, giving New Mexico one of the highest rates in the country for its rate of violent crime. For example, in the last five years, violent crime in Albuquerque increased a shocking 36%.
Albuquerque
The Albuquerque Police Department boasts a police force of nearly 1,000 and is organized into a number of specialized units, including crime scene investigations, tactical units, special investigations, violent crimes, and more.
Applicants for a position as a police officer in Albuquerque must be 21 years old by the time they graduate from the academy. They must also have 60 college credit hours with a minimum 2.0 GPA. This can be waived for those who have served in the military for three years.
Las Cruces
The crime rate in Las Cruces is high compared to other cities in the U.S. The 75 patrol officers and 12 sergeants of the Las Cruces Police Department Patrol Program worked to fight this trend with some success in 2018, reducing violent crime by 18 percent, with 129 fewer logged than in 2017.
Applicants must be 20 years old and have a high school diploma or GED. The first step in the application process is a written exam. Applicants who pass this then undergo a physical assessment test. Those who pass undergo a background check, oral interviews, drug screen, and polygraph, psychological, and medical evaluations.
Rio Rancho
The officers of the Rio Rancho Police Department often work in the department’s specialized units, which include a traffic unit, criminal investigations division, K-9 unit, and SWAT, among others.
Applicants for police officer jobs in Rio Rancho must have prior experience in law enforcement or in the military or have law enforcement certification. Applicants undergo a physical fitness assessment and a written exam. If they pass, they are then interviewed and undergo a background check. Successful applicants receive a conditional offer of employment, but they must then pass drug screening, a medical exam, and psychological screening. Training for Police Officers in Rio Rancho is provided at the Basic Police Officer Academy.
Roswell
Roswell has a very high crime rate compared to other cities of the same size. The 74 sworn officers of the Roswell Police Department responded to 62,411 service calls in 2017.
Individuals who have applied for police officer positions in Roswell and are accepted for employment will undergo training at the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe for a 22-week course.
Santa Fe
Santa Fe Police Department’s largest division, the Patrol Division, is comprised of four patrol teams, alongside a traffic team, bike patrol, DWI unit, animal control and public safety aides.
Applicants for police officer positions in Santa Fe must be U.S. citizens and must have reached 21 years of age. Applicants must have a high school diploma or GED. To be hired, applicants must pass a written exam, physical agility tests, and oral interview, and polygraph, background, psychological, and medical examinations, along with a drug screening test.
New Mexico Law Enforcement Salaries
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the average salary for law enforcement officers in New Mexico was $55,420 as of May 2021.
The following police/sheriff’s department salary data was sourced from May 2021 BLS stats (early career = 25th percentile, senior/late career = 90th percentile).
Police Officer Salaries
When your starting salary is already higher than the state average, as it is in Albuquerque, you know you’ve found a good spot. Urban pay rates tend to be higher than rural areas throughout the state, but the gap between starting and senior salaries can be considerable, as it is in Roswell.
Albuquerque Police Department
Entry – $50,480
Mid-level – $60,040
Senior – $60,770
Las Cruces Police Department
Entry – $47,310
Mid-level – $56,950
Senior – $76,010
Santa Fe Police Department
Entry – $49,210
Mid-level – $61,190
Senior – $79,360
Sheriff’s Deputy Salaries
New Mexico sheriff’s departments have a lot of ground to cover in some harsh terrain. The wide range of tasks they are expected to accomplish can help account for some of the high end salaries, which may exceed even the 90th percentile for the state.
Bernalillo County Sheriff
- Entry – $50,480
- Mid-level – $60,040
- Senior – $60,770
Santa Fe County Sheriff
- Entry – $49,210
- Mid-level – $61,190
- Senior – $79,360
State Police Salaries
Although the pay rate is not the highest for state police in New Mexico, the esprit de corps is, and their track record reflects the abilities of this highly professional force.
New Mexico State Police
- Entry – $47,310
- Senior – $67,750
2021 US Bureau of Labor Statistics salary figures for police and sheriff’s patrol officers. Job growth projections from the US Department of Labor-sponsored resource, Projections Central. Figures are based on state data, not school-specific information. Conditions in your area may vary. Data accessed August 2022.