Police Officer - Lateral

City-of-Las-Cruces; Las Cruces (NM); On-site; USD 60,000 - 90,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Thirteen paid holidays

Twelve sick leave days per year

Personal leave

Vacation leave

Bereavement leave

Health insurance plans

Uniforms, equipment and sidearm

Work-related injury compensation

Take-home car program

Promotional opportunities

Overtime pay & compensatory time off

Annual leave on hire: 40 hours

Spanish speaking pay – incentive

Advanced Education incentive

Referral Program

Job summary

City of Las Cruces is seeking a Police Officer to protect persons and property, prevent and investigate crimes, and enforce laws. The role includes ten-hour rotating shifts, potential extended hours, and mandatory participation in a structured selection process.

The position offers a $30,000 recruitment incentive with a 36-month commitment, plus staged payments and relocation assistance of up to $5,000 based on eligibility. Bilingual ability is a plus.

Qualifications

• Twenty-one years of age
• United States citizenship (born or naturalized) or individuals with work authorization from USCIS
• Valid driver’s license
• Valid high school diploma or equivalent (GED)
• No misdemeanor convictions within the last three years
• No convictions of domestic violence
• No felony convictions
• Any drug usage since receiving a peace officer certification will disqualify
• Must not have ever transported illegal drugs
• Must not have a Dishonorable Discharge from the US Military
• Must pass all steps of the Selection Process
• Must have a current law enforcement certification recognized/approved by the NM Department of Public Safety
• Out-of-State Lateral Officers must have a minimum of two years experience
• One year minimum if you possess an NMLEA Police Officer Certification
• Two year minimum waived if graduated Las Cruces Police Dept Academy
• Must complete LCPD Lateral Training
• Must complete LCPD Field Training & Evaluation Program (up to 14 weeks)
• Out-of-State Lateral Officers must complete the two-week Certification by Waiver course within first year

Responsibilities

• Perform general duty police work to provide protective services for Las Cruces residents
• Patrol streets, roads, and public places by foot, motorcycle, patrol car, or other conveyance to prevent crime and enforce laws
• Issue tickets to traffic violators
• Render first aid at accidents and manage traffic reroutes while investigating accident causes and results
• Respond to reported crime scenes following required processes and procedures
• Write and file daily activity reports after each shift
• Coordinate with county, state, and federal law enforcement during apprehension and detention of suspects
• Appear in court to present evidence and testify against violators

Education

High school diploma or GED

Job description

Full-time, regular, non-exempt position. Pay will be based upon number of years of full-time experience in law enforcement up to the salary range posted at top of announcement.

Offering a $30,000 recruitment and retention incentive payment and 5 personal leave days (40 hours) with a 36 month commitment.

• At Hire: $10,000.00
• At the Completion of Field Training: $10,000.00
• One Day Prior to the End of the Probationary Year: $10,000.00
• Relocation assistance: $5,000.00

Relocation assistance is based on eligibility.

Performs general duty police work involved in the protection of persons and property; prevention and investigation of crimes; and enforcement of laws.

Position is subject to competing demands such as ten-hour shifts on a rotating basis; extended work hours beyond regular shift when necessary; multiple tasks; strict deadlines; and exposure to seriousbodilyharm.Regularattendanceisanessentialfunctionofthisjobtoensurecontinuityof services.

Position is subject to drug testing in accordance with applicable State and Federal regulations and City of Las Cruces policies.

Meetingorexceedingtheminimumqualificationsdoesnotguaranteeaninvitationtoparticipatein the process.

AnyapplicantwhohasworkedfortheLasCrucesPoliceDepartmentasacommissionedpolice officer in the last thirty-six (36) months is ineligible for the hiring incentive.

This position is graded between a POF 1 - POF 5.

• Performs general duty police work in order to provide protective services to the general public of Las Cruces.
• Patrols streets, roads, and public places on foot, motorcycle, patrol car, or any other means of conveyance to prevent crime, enforce laws, or respond to criminal actions.
• Issuesticketstotrafficviolators.
• Rendersfirstaidataccidentsites,reroutestrafficaccordingly,andinvestigatescausesand results of accidents.
• Responds to reported crime scenes adhering to required processes and procedures.
• Writesand filesreport of dailyactivity immediatelyfollowing each shift.
• Cooperateswithcounty,state,andfederallawenforcementagenciesintheapprehensionand detention of persons involved in criminal activity.
• Appears in court to present evidence and testify against apprehended individuals violating the law.

1. Twenty(21)yearsofage
2. United States citizenship (born or naturalized) or individuals with work authorization from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services
3. Validdriver'slicense
4. Validhighschooldiplomaorequivalent(GED)
5. No misdemeanor convictions within the last three (3) years
6. No convictions of domestic violence
7. No felony convictions
8. Anydrug usagesince receiving apeace officercertification will disqualify
9. Must not have ever transported illegal drugs
10. Must not have a Dishonorable Discharge from the US Military
11. Must pass all steps of the Selection Process; see below
12. Must have a current law enforcement certification that is issued or recognized and approved by the New Mexico Department of Public Safety.
13. Out-of-State Lateral Officers must have a minimum of two (2) years experience. Law enforcement experience must include, but not limited to: conducting traffic stops and/or investigations: responding to domestic violence calls, disorderly conduct and public affray calls, DWI/DUI; community policing.
14. One (1) year minimum requirement accepted if you currently possess a NMLEA Police Officer Certification.
15. Two (2) Year minimum requirement waived if applicant has graduated a Las Cruces Policy Department Academy.
16. Must complete LCPD Lateral Training
17. Must complete LCPD Field Training & Evaluation Program (up to 14 weeks).
18. Out-of-State Lateral Officers must complete the two (2) week Certification by Waiver course (held in Santa Fe, NM) within the first year of employment.

Selection Process (NM Certified only)

1. Complete and submit City of Las Cruces application
2. LCPD Physical Agility assessment
3. NMDPS Day & Night qualification course
4. Extensive background investigation
5. LCPD Assessment Center
6. Polygraph
7. Psychological examination, evaluation and interview
8. Medical physical/Drug screening
9. Police Chief interview

Selection Process (Out-of-State)

1. Complete and submit City of Las Cruces application
2. Physical assessment (50th percentile)
3. NMDPS Agility Obstacle Courses
4. NMDPS Day & Night firearms qualification course
5. Extensive background investigation
6. LCPD Assessment Center
7. Polygraph
8. Psychological examination, evaluation and interview
9. Medical physical / Drug screening
10. Police Chief interview

Benefits

1. Thirteen (13) paid holidays per year
2. Twelve(12)sickleavedaysperyear
3. Personal leave
4. Vacationleave
5. Bereavement leave
6. Health insurance plans
7. Uniforms, equipment and sidearm provided
8. Workrelatedinjurycompensation
9. Retirement program (P.E.R.A.)
10. Takehomecarprogram
11. Promotional opportunities
12. Four (4) – 10 hour work days
13. Paid overtime & compensatory time off
14. Forty (40) hours of annual leave upon hiring
15. Sixteen (16) hours of personal leave upon hiring. Additional Sixty -Four (64) hours after completion of probation.
16. Spanish speaking pay - incentive
17. Advanced Education - Incentive (Bachelors and Masters Degree)
18. Referral Program - Incentive

Bilingual (English/Spanish) preferred. Ability to plan, direct, and coordinate police and civilian activities. Knowledge in police operations, techniques, practices, traffic control and enforcement, and resource planning. Excellent communication and interpersonal skills necessary in interacting with general public and City staff. Knowledge of safety and standard police practices. Working knowledge of personal computer with appropriate software is necessary. Ability to operate all assigned equipment and tools.