City makes push to fill 19 vacant police officer jobs

City Hall is making a push to fill 19 vacant police officer jobs.

The positions, with a starting pay at $19.11 per hour, are open to both new cadets and transfers from other police departments. Santa Fe police can earn up to $27.11 per hour, depending on experience and specialization, according to a city of Santa Fe news release issued Tuesday.

“It’s a job that demands a diverse and skilled team, and we’re looking for dedicated public servants to join it,” Chief Patrick Gallagher said.

The Santa Fe Police Department is now a 158-person force, including Gallagher and his command staff, which amounts to 18.8 police personnel for every 10,000 residents. The vacant positions make up about 11 percent of the force.

If they are filled, the city would have 21.1 police personnel per 10,000 residents — higher than the average of 20.4 for U.S. cities with populations between 50,000 and 100,000, according to FBI data analyzed last year by Governing magazine, which reports on state and local governance. The U.S. Census Bureau reported Santa Fe’s population at 83,875 in 2016.

New cadets must have a high school diploma or equivalent and a valid driver’s license and no felony convictions, according to the news release. All applicants must be at least 21 upon certification from the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy.

Applicants with prior law enforcement experience must have in-state certification; applicants from outside the state can be certified by waiver.

Applicants who have passed a physical fitness test will undergo written and medical exams, drug and psychological screenings, a background check, polygraph test and interviews with Gallagher and command staff.

Mayor Javier Gonzales, in a statement, said Santa Fe is “building a community police force.”

“We’re looking for a few good men and women to answer the call,” Gonzales said.

Contact Tripp Stelnicki at 505-428-7626 or tstelnicki@sfnewmexican.com.