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APD increases incentives for police officers and service aides with new hiring bonuses

The Albuquerque Police Department is offering competitive hiring bonuses to recruit experienced officers and police service aids.

Aug. 2, 2021

The Albuquerque Police Department is offering competitive hiring bonuses to recruit experienced officers and police service aids.

Effective immediately, lateral police officers who join APD from other departments will receive a $15,000 hiring bonus. Police cadets will receive a $5,000 hiring bonus, and police service aides will receive a $1,500 hiring bonus.

“Even as we continue to push into a robust recovery from the pandemic, public safety departments across the nation are still feeling the effects of the challenges from the last year,” said Mayor Tim Keller. “Public safety remains our top priority and we’re making sure more help is on the way. Our investment in competitive salaries has helped us hire over 300 new officers so far. These new hiring bonuses will keep us competitive at this critical juncture in our city’s history.”

“Our officers stepped up throughout the pandemic and during a divisive period of public scrutiny last year,” said Chief Harold Medina.“We have to be bold in order to be competitive. Offering competitive incentives to future officers and police service aides is necessary to get the boots on the ground to make our community safer.”

Retirements at police departments across the country increased by 45% and resignations were up by 18% from April 2020 through April 2021, according to a survey of 200 agencies by the Police Executive Research Forum.

At APD, retirements started increasing in June 2020 and continued through the pandemic.

The hiring bonuses will be paid out in increments. For example, lateral officers will receive $5,000 upon being hired, another $5,000 upon completion of their 4th week in the Academy, and the final installment after the officer completes a one-year probationary period.

APD has continued to see a steady flow of recruits joining both the Academy and the CNM Law Enforcement Academy with over 100 individuals seated before the end of the year.

Additionally, as APD increases the number of police officers, hiring more police service aides is also a high priority as PSAs can take low-priority matters like traffic control, freeing up officers to respond to high priority calls.  Building the number of police service aides also helps increase the police force in the future as many of them join the police academy or pursue civilian opportunities at APD.

Applications for cadets, lateral officers and service aides can all be found at the link here.