The Las Cruces Police Department is on the lookout for recruits and is accepting applications for its upcoming training academy, with the program expected to kick off in March 2025. Hopeful police cadets have until December 2, to throw their hats in the ring for consideration. This information was disclosed in an announcement from the department.
There's money on the table starting for cadets, $20 an hour is what's on offer while they're learning the ropes in the academy. Once they graduate from the grueling 22-week program, their pay gets bumped up to $24 per hour as officer trainees. These trainees who endure and see through their one-year probationary period rise to the role of patrol officers, pulling in an hourly wage of $28.84, according to the City of Las Cruces.
Hiring incentives range from $11,000 to a notable $30,000, depending not just on education, with a sliding scale favoring degrees in sociology, psychology, criminal justice, or criminology, but also for those with four years of honorable military service. There's even a helping hand for out-of-towners, with the promise of up to $5,000 in relocation assistance for recruits moving to Las Cruces to join the force.
For anyone with aspirations of wearing the badge, the criteria are clear-cut. Applicants must be U.S. citizens, have celebrated their 19th birthday at the time of application, be holders of at least high school diplomas, and carry no felonies on their records. Insight into the inner workings of the academy and further elaboration on what it takes to join the ranks, as per the City of Las Cruces. Interested folks have the option to text “JoinLCPD” to 575-376-6817 to chat up a recruiter for more info.
