EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) – The Las Cruces Police Department (LCPD) gained five experienced officers following a four-week academy that was completed on Thursday, Feb. 6.
LCPD said the five officers – three who previously retired from LCPD and returned to duty and two who are lateral hires from other agencies – completed an abbreviated four-week academy on Thursday and were sworn in by Third Judicial District Judge Conrad Perea.
All five will now undergo field training with experienced LCPD officers, the department said.
LCPD said the two officers who lateral transferred to LCPD are Matthew Montana Madrid from the Otero County Sheriff’s Office and Brendan Shannon from the Silver City Police Department.
The three retirees who are rejoining the department are Ramiro Rivera and Dean Thatcher who both retired in 2021, and Roy Askin who retired in 2018, LCPD said.
“New laws that went into effect in 2024 and govern the Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico allow recent retirees to return to work for many public safety positions including police officers,” read the news release by LCPD. “The law allows retirees to receive their earned pension, cost-of-living adjustments and their new salary for up to 36 months after returning to work.”
LCPD is targeting retirees who have been drawing retirement benefits for no more than eight years, the department said.
LCPD said applications for lateral hires and recent retirees are continuously being accepted and are available online through the City’s Human Resources website.
Applications will be reviewed periodically and there is no foreseeable deadline to apply. However, early submissions are strongly encouraged, LCPD said.
LCPD said lateral and retiree officers selected will receive a $30,000 recruitment and retention incentive to be paid before their probationary year is complete and 40 hours of personal leave annually with a 36-month commitment. New hires may also be eligible for $5,000 in relocation assistance, LCPD added.
With the completion of the new lateral and retiree academy, the LCPD now has 190 commissioned officers. LCPD is allotted 220 officers, the department said.
Commissioned law enforcement officers in good standing with other agencies and LCPD retirees who want more information can call LCPD’s Training Academy at (575) 541-2766.
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