Applications Now Being Accepted for Academy

Two police officers standing in front of a police vehicle.

The Las Cruces Police Department is now accepting applications for its next training academy.

The 22-week paid Academy, the 57^th for the Las Cruces Police Department, is anticipated to begin in January 2027. The 22-week Academy is preceded by a six-week pre-academy.

Applications for Police Cadet are available online beginning Monday, July 6, and must be submitted no later than Sept. 16, 2026.

The starting salary for cadets is $24 per hour while in the academy. Graduates from the 22-week academy become officer trainees who receive $26 per hour. Officer trainees who successfully complete their one-year probationary status become patrol officers and earn a salary of $30.28 per hour.

LCPD also offers generous hiring incentives for cadets with a three-year commitment. The incentives are non-stackable:

$11,000 for each cadet.
$15,000 for an associate degree.
$20,000 for a bachelor’s degree or four years of honorable military service or retirement from military.
$25,000 for a bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology.
$30,000 for a master’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology.

Some recruits who live outside of Las Cruces may be eligible for up to $5,000 in relocation assistance.

Annual leave and vacation time is a major incentive for LCPD recruits. First-year officers, after completing their one-year probation, earn 256 hours of leave each year. That includes 80 hours of annual leave, 80 hours of personal leave and 96 hours of sick leave. Officers work four 10-hour shifts, so the annual and personal leave amounts to 16 days off each year plus holidays and regular days off.

Applicants are required to be U.S. citizens or have a work authorization from the United States Citizenship and Immigration Services, be at least 19 years old when the academy begins, have at least a high school diploma and no felony convictions.

Prospective candidates can learn more about the academy by visiting JoinLasCrucesPD.com.