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Bernalillo council approves plan to recruit and train non‑certified police officers, adds two positions
Summary
The Town of Bernalillo approved a Police Department plan to recruit and train non‑certified officers and to increase authorized commissioned positions from 23 to 25. Chief Tom Romero said recruitment, academy costs and an extended probationary period aim to address persistent staffing shortfalls and overnight coverage gaps.
The Town of Bernalillo governing body on March 11 unanimously approved a Police Department proposal to recruit and train non‑certified candidates and to expand the department’s authorized commissioned strength from 23 to 25 officers.
Police Chief Tom Romero told the council the department has struggled to attract certified applicants and is currently short three positions. Romero said the department typically must reshuffle shifts to maintain coverage, and recently had only two officers on duty after 3 a.m., a situation he described as hazardous for both officers and the public.
Romero outlined the recruitment and training plan: in addition to recruiting certified officers, the department will screen and hire non‑certified candidates, provide classroom and field training locally, and send recruits to a 17‑week academy (Central New Mexico Police Academy) for certification. He said the department will require medical, physical and psychological testing prior to hire, and will place hires on an extended probationary period because recruits will be at academy for several months.
The chief provided cost estimates for the program: approximately $3,000 per candidate for academy tuition, about $450 for medical and testing, and roughly $2,250 for uniforms and equipment — a total of about $5,700 per recruit. Romero also recommended a two‑year post‑certification service requirement; recruits who leave earlier would be required to repay the Town for the tangible costs described.
Romero further proposed adding two commissioned positions to improve shift coverage and reduce the need to reassign officers for leave or training. He estimated salary and benefits at about $91,000 per officer annually, or roughly $182,000 for two officers, and said recruitment, training and certification could take nearly a year.
Councilor Jaramillo moved to approve the proposal; Councilor Sisneros seconded and the motion carried unanimously.
Votes at a glance: The council voted unanimously on several agenda items related to personnel and finance. Councilors approved hiring Christopher McLaughlin as Payroll Clerk; the council approved accounts payable totaling $361,544.75; and the council approved the Police Department policy updates (see separate article). All motions passed by unanimous vote on March 11, 2019.
Why it matters: The move is intended to address persistent staffing shortages that the police chief said have left overnight coverage thin and have forced frequent schedule changes. The hiring approach allows the town to recruit a wider pool of candidates and to pay non‑certified hires at a lower starting rate than certified recruits while investing in training and certification.
