In New Mexico, those interested in becoming police officers must meet or exceed the qualifications (listed below) and then complete an interest card with the police department you choose. If contacted after your application, you will complete 3 days of testing which includes an entrance exam, physical fitness test, psychological test, application and background questionnaire, and a personal history statement. If these are satisfactory, you would receive a background check and then a polygraph and psychological interview. Finally there would be an interview before a board of officers and a medical exam. If selected, you would then go to a New Mexico police training academy.
Police Officer Requirements for New Mexico
New Mexico has more standards for aspiring police officers than a lot of other states. The minimum requirements that must be met prior to applying are:
- You must be 21 by the time you graduate from the police academy
- No misdemeanor convictions within the last 3 years
- Have a valid driver’s license
- Be a legal citizen of the U.S.
- Have no felony convictions
- No DWI convictions in previous 5 years
- No domestic violence convictions
- No misdemeanor drug convictions in the last 3 years
- No felony drug convictions in 5 year history
- Have at least 60 credit hours from an accredited college or university or at least 3 years of military service and an honorable discharge
Police Officer Salary in New Mexico
The average police salary in New Mexico is 43,350 a year. It could be more or less for a patrol officer depending on several variables which include where the officer works, how long he or she has been employed, and what type of degree or education experience he or she has obtained. New Mexico requires that you earn 60 college credit hours minimum before applying, but some officer candidates choose to accomplish a degree (even higher level degrees) in order to be more marketable and to earn a higher salary. Officers who attain rank promotions make more. For instance, criminal investigators and detectives in New Mexico make an average salary of 63,500 a year.
New Mexico Law Enforcement Schooling
New Mexico has a minimum requirement of having at least 60 hours of college credits or 3 years in the military (with an honorable discharge). This list has some of the schools in New Mexico that offer Law Enforcement related degrees and certificates. It is important that those wishing to apply to a New Mexico police job meet these requirements before attempting to apply.
- Central New Mexico Community College
525 Buena Vista Drive SE, Albuquerque, NM 87106
505-224-3000
- Clovis Community College
417 Schepps Blvd., Clovis, NM 88101
575-769-2811
- Luna Community College
366 Luna Drive, Las Vegas, NM 87701
505-454-2500
- Mesalands Community College
911 South 10th Street, Tucumcari, NM 88401
575-461-4413
- New Mexico Junior College
1 Thunderbird Circle, Hobbs, NM 88240
575-392-4510
- New Mexico State University
1220 Stewart Street, Las Cruces, NM 88003
575-646-0111
- New Mexico State University-Alamogordo
2400 North Scenic Drive, Alamogordo, NM 88310
575-439-3650
- New Mexico State University-Dona Ana Community College
3400 S Espina Street, Las Cruces, NM 88003
575-527-7540
- New Mexico State University-Grants
1500 Third Street, Grants, NM 87020
505-287-6678
- Northern New Mexico College
921 N Paseo de Onate, Espanola, NM 87532
505-747-2100
- San Juan College
4601 College Blvd., Farmington, NM 87402
505-326-3311
- Santa Fe Community College
6401 Richards Avenue, Santa Fe, NM 87508
505-428-1000
- University of New Mexico
1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131
505-277-0111
- University of New Mexico – Valencia Campus
280 La Entrada Road, Los Lunas, NM 87031
505-925-8500
- University of New Mexico-Taos Branch
246 Ledoux Street, Taos, NM 87571
575-737-6200
- University of the Southwest
6610 Lovington Hwy., Hobbs, NM 88240
575-392-6561
- Western New Mexico University
1000 W College Street, Silver City, NM 88062
575-538-6011