State police accepting 'lateral' officer applications
The New Mexico State Police recently announced the second application cycle for "lateral" officers – those with previous law enforcement experience – interested in joining their ranks.
The state agency has traditionally recruited individuals without prior experience, often drawing applicants fresh out of college – some with law degrees, some with military experience – though anyone who meets the basic qualifications is eligible to apply.
Conventional route
The application cycle for next year's standard 92nd recruit class also opened just recently, and recruitment officers are anticipating a high volume of applicants this year.
"We get people from all sorts of backgrounds," said New Mexico State Police Lt. Emmanuel Gutierrez, who heads up the state police recruiting team. "But we are consistent in what we look for – somebody who's motivated and super honest."
After the initial application submission, there is a physical fitness test and a written test. Recruits must pass a polygraph, undergo background checks and are assessed before a panel of proven officers.
But the vetting process only offers a hint of the rigorous training and testing program that follows once an applicant makes it through the door.
At the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy in Santa Fe, recruits experience an intensive 22-week training and testing program in which they are assessed on physical fitness, firearms proficiency and knowledge of procedure and tactics.
In the end, the large class numbers are pared down to only a select few who go on to wear a uniform.
The program is thorough, notoriously selective and highly competitive, though also costly and time-consuming given the open nature of the application process.
Fast track
The New Mexico State Police Lateral Academy launched earlier this year to bolster state police ranks with experienced officers – vetted and trained through through an abbreviated, seven-week program.
"I spent eight years in the Navy and then came home and joined the state police," said Officer Carlos J. Herrera, who joined the agency after the conventional, 22-week training process. "It's always been that way. This year the lateral program is allowing us to get experienced officers to the streets quicker."
The first application cycle concluded with the hiring of several new, lateral officers in July, and the second cycle began on Nov. 18. "We're looking to hire about 10 to 15 officers," Herrera said. "They might come from New Mexico or somewhere outside."
It's a new method of hiring for the state, Gutierrez said – one that is expected to fill in staffing gaps across New Mexico, perhaps especially in its more rural areas.
"We're trying to innovative in our recruiting practices to find some quality applicants," Gutierrez said. "This is something our leadership within the department had discussed. We wanted to try a different approach to find quality individuals that [could] be officers."
Key qualifications require that applicants be at least 21 years old, possess a high school diploma or GED and have a minimum of three years of law enforcement experience.
Officers interested in applying can speak with a recruiter at (505) 827-9200.
