SW New Mexico News

The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) has welcomed five experienced officers following the completion of a condensed four-week training academy. The officers, consisting of three retirees returning to duty and two lateral hires from other agencies, were sworn in by Third Judicial District Judge Conrad Perea on February 6, 2025.

The new additions will undergo field training alongside seasoned LCPD officers. The lateral transfers include Matthew Montana Madrid from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and Brendan Shannon from the Silver City Police Department. Returning retirees are Ramiro Rivera and Dean Thatcher, both of whom retired in 2021, and Roy Askin who retired in 2018.

Recent legislative changes effective from 2024 under the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico permit recent retirees to return to public safety roles such as police officers while receiving their pension benefits along with a salary for up to 36 months post-return.

LCPD is actively seeking applications from retirees who have been receiving retirement benefits for less than eight years and continues to accept applications for lateral hires online via the City’s Human Resources website. There is no deadline set for application submissions; however, early applications are advised.

Selected lateral and retiree officers will receive a $30,000 recruitment incentive prior to completing their probationary year and an annual allotment of 40 hours personal leave contingent upon a 36-month service commitment. Additionally, new recruits may qualify for $5,000 in relocation assistance.

With these recent additions through the academy, LCPD now employs 190 commissioned officers out of an authorized total of 220. Interested law enforcement personnel can contact LCPD’s Training Academy at (575) 541-2766 for further information.

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