Police Officer- Entry Level

City of Farmington Hills; Farmington (NM); On-site; USD 64,000 - 74,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Sign-on bonus of $15,000 after three milestones.

Job summary

The City of Farmington Hills is hiring an Entry-Level Police Officer for the Police Department in Farmington, New Mexico. This role includes performing various duties such as conducting patrols, responding to incidents, and enforcing laws to ensure community safety.

Candidates must be physically fit, have a high school diploma or GED, and be able to pass background checks and certification tests. This position offers a competitive pay rate of $31.0063/hour plus additional bonus structures upon hire and successful training completion.

Qualifications

• Must be 21 years or older by completion of the academy.
• Must pass physical fitness tests required for law-enforcement certification.
• Must have a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record.

Responsibilities

• Perform uniformed shift work including patrol duties.
• Conduct security patrols and traffic control.
• Respond to emergency radio calls and investigate incidents.

Skills

Good physical condition

Effective communication

Sound judgment

Customer service skills

Education

High school diploma or GED equivalent

Tools

Police vehicle

Radio

Handgun

Job description

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSITION #91: POLICE OFFICER – ENTRY LEVEL

Number of Vacancies: 1+

Department: Police/Operations

Work Location: Farmington Police Department

Pay Class: PU1

Hiring Range: $31.0063/hour

Days Worked: Varied

Hours Worked: Varied

Type of Position: Regular, Full-Time, Shift

Position Closes: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

Sign‑On Bonus Structures

• $5,000 upon date of hire.
• $5,000 upon successful completion of the Field Training Program.
• $5,000 upon successful completion of probation (subject to reimbursement contingent on a three‑year continuous employment commitment).

Essential Duties

• Perform uniformed shift work, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Conduct security patrols, traffic control, first aid at accidents, detection, investigation, and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.
• Make independent judgment when deciding course of action during difficult and emergency situations without assistance.
• Maintain availability via radio or telephone to respond to police matters.
• Carry out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
• Patrol streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or investigate misconduct, and protect the community.
• Respond to emergency radio calls, investigate accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, drug abuse, etc., and take appropriate law‑enforcement action.
• Interrogate suspects, witnesses, and drivers; preserve evidence; arrest or cite violators; provide assistance at vehicular accident scenes; summon ambulances and other law‑enforcement vehicles; take measurements and draw diagrams of scenes.
• Conduct follow‑up investigations of crimes during assigned shift; seek out and question victims, witnesses, and suspects; develop leads and tips; search scenes for clues; evaluate evidence; arrest offenders; prepare cases for testimony and testify in court.
• Prepare reports such as incident reports, field interrogation cards, DWI reports, towed vehicle reports, and accident reports.
• Undertake community‑oriented police work and assist citizens with stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse, traffic, and bicycle safety.
• Participate in investigating criminal law violations within city limits, obtain evidence, compile information, prepare cases for filing charges, testify in court, and related activities.
• Conduct patrol activities including directing traffic, investigating reported or observed violations, and conducting patrol activities.
• Coordinate activities with other officers or city departments; exchange information with other law‑enforcement agencies; obtain advice from the City Attorney or District Attorney’s Office as needed.
• Maintain contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergencies, and provide general information about department activities.
• Use excellent customer‑service skills to establish and maintain effective working relationships with employees, officials, and the public.
• Operate a motor vehicle to carry out department and city business.
• Attendance at work is an essential function of this position.

Non‑Essential Duties

• Operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications.
• Learn and apply new skills and knowledge from rapidly changing technology.
• Maintain departmental equipment, supplies, and facilities.
• Maintain contact with the general public, court officials, and other city officials during police operations.
• Serve on various employee committees as needed.

Qualifications

• Subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy, including pre‑employment, post‑accident, random, reasonable suspicion, return‑to‑duty, and follow‑up testing.
• Extensive background checks required.
• Must be 21 years or older by completion of the academy.
• Must have the ability to become a certified law‑enforcement officer in New Mexico within one year.
• Must successfully pass physical fitness tests required for law‑enforcement certification in New Mexico.
• Must possess, or be able to obtain by hire, a valid driver’s license with an acceptable driving record for the past three years.
• Must be a United States Citizen.
• Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories are not allowed.
• Must not have used illegal drugs within the past three years, except for marijuana, which will be evaluated case‑by‑case during background investigation.
• Must read and write English.
• Must have good moral character and temperate, industrious habits.
• Must hold a high school diploma or GED equivalent.
• Can learn applicable laws, ordinances, and department rules and regulations.
• Can perform work requiring good physical condition.
• Can communicate effectively orally and in writing.
• Can establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers, and supervisors.
• Can exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and making decisions.
• Can follow verbal and written instructions.
• Can learn the City’s geography.

Tools and Equipment Used

• Police vehicle, radio, handgun, baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, cell phone, in‑car video camera, body‑worn camera, first‑aid equipment, and chemical agent.
• Extensive computer use for dispatching, reporting, and communication.

Physical Demands

• Perform uniformed shift work, including days, evenings, nights, weekends, and holidays.
• Frequently lift and/or move heavy objects or persons.
• Vision requirements: close, distance, color, peripheral, depth perception, and focus adjustment.
• Stand, sit, talk, hear, use hands and fingers to feel objects or controls; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run, and physically subdue combative subjects.

Required Examinations

• Written exam; oral board interview; psychological examinations (written and oral); polygraph; medical examination; physical agility testing; extensive background investigation.

Work Environment

• Often works outside in various weather conditions.
• Occasionally works near moving mechanical parts, in high, precarious places, with explosives, wet/humid conditions, fumes, airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat, and vibration.
• Noise level is moderate.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F/D/V