SW New Mexico News

The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) has announced an increase in pay for cadets and officer-trainees, effective January 1, 2025. Cadets will earn $24 per hour or $49,920 annually during their time at the academy. Upon graduation, officer-trainees will receive $26 per hour or $54,000 annually. Those who complete their first year as officer-trainees will see their hourly wage rise to $28.84 plus overtime.

Applications for the position of Police Cadet must be submitted by December 2, 2024. The training academy is expected to commence in March 2025.

LCPD provides hiring incentives for cadets who commit to a three-year term. These incentives are non-stackable and include: "$11,000 for each cadet," "$15,000 for an associate degree," "$20,000 for bachelor’s degree or four years of honorable military service or retirement from military," "$25,000 for bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology," and "$30,000 for master’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology." Additionally, recruits from outside Las Cruces may qualify for up to $5,000 in relocation assistance.

Eligibility requirements include U.S. citizenship, a minimum age of 19 at the time of application submission, possession of at least a high school diploma, and no felony convictions.

For further details and to apply for a position with LCPD, interested individuals can visit the Las Cruces Police website.

The department currently employs 183 officers out of an allocated total of 220 commissioned officers.

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