SFPD giving recruits ‘a taste’ before the police academy
Even after going through the rigorous New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy, some new officers at the Santa Fe Police Department are finding that the profession isn’t for them and leave after a short time on the job, costing the city thousands of dollars.
That doesn’t help when the department is trying to fill 20 vacancies.
To correct that, SFPD Chief Patrick Gallagher has recently put about four or five recruits through a week or two of field training before ship- ping them to the academy. The police department is authorized for 178 officer slots.
“It allows us to put people into training first to let them see if this is what they want,” Gallagher said. “It’s giving them a taste of the job before they go into the academy.”
Gallagher said the academy is more a studious environment that’s “a heck of a lot different than being on the streets.” He also encourages people to
go on ride-alongs with officers before they apply, to see if they’re a fit for the job.
Only two recruits have walked away after completing the academy and starting the job, but one of them was at the top of his academy class, Gallagher said. It costs city government about $60,000 to get an officer all the way through the recruiting and testing process, the state law enforcement academy and field training before they can be on patrol by themselves.
“To have those people walk away is a $60,000 investment,” Gallagher said.
Standards are also holding some prospective officers from getting hired. The department entry requirements include a written exam, a physical exam, a polygraph test, a background check, a psychological exam and a drug screening before being interviewed by Gallagher and the command staff. Out of the past 100 applicants, only 10 are now in the academy, Gallagher said.
Last week, the city issued a “call” for applicants, promoting starting pay of $19.11 per hour and the opportunity to “quickly move up from there to as much as $27.11 per hour for non-command staff positions based on years of service, specialization and experience.”
Applicants must not have used illegal drugs, including marijuana, in the past three years. Even licensed medical marijuana patients cannot join the force, because all officers swear to obey all laws, and marijuana continues to be illegal at the federal level. The department doesn’t ask if an applicant has a state-issued medical marijuana license, but a positive drug test is grounds for immediate disqualification.
Gallagher said he believes recreational marijuana use, which has become more socially accepted in recent years, has caused some people to be excluded or to not apply, and he said others have reapplied after the threeyear window closed.
“It’s an evolving area,” Gallagher said about marijuana. “Let’s see where it goes. If it’s legalized, we’re going to have to revisit our qualifications.”
SFPD has had a hard time filling vacancies during Gallagher’s two-year tenure as chief, and there were up to 26 open positions last year. The department has hired 36 officers in Gallagher’s time, but 39 have left, including 10 retirees. Gallagher said agencies nationwide have had this issue.
“The whole profession is having difficult times filling vacancies,” he said. “We always have to worry about the danger on this job. Officers are being assassinated just for being officers. Some people don’t want to take that risk.”
But the job isn’t all about danger, Gallagher said. Officers also have the opportunity to refer people to social services and counseling — like the city’s Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion Program, which allows nonviolent drug offenders to get treatment in lieu of jail time — and Gallagher wants prospective officers to know that as they consider a career in law enforcement.
“The biggest part of it is having a good head on your shoulders and the desire to serve your community,” Gallagher said. “It’s a lot more than what you think it is. You’re also doing a lot of social work, believe it or not.”