Lateral Police Officer

JOB OPENING

CITY OF FARMINGTON

JOB POSITION #92: LATERAL POLICE OFFICER

NUMBER OF VACANCIES: 1+

DEPARTMENT: Police/Operations

WORK LOCATION: Farmington Police Department

PAY CLASS: PU1

HIRING RANGE: $31.7815 - $42.9145 - DOE

DAYS WORKED: Varied

HOURS WORKED: Varied

TYPE OF POSITION: Regular, Full-Time, Shift

POSITION CLOSES: Wednesday, September 30, 2026

JOB DUTIES

You must submit the following documents when applying for Lateral Police Officer:

• Completed City of Farmington Application
• Copies of all advanced law enforcement training hours
• Course curriculum from the academy you attended
• Please send a syllabus or class schedule that lists the names of all classes and the amount of hours for each class.

You will receive emails regarding all processes and purchasing of study materials as you apply – please thoroughly read any and all emails and follow the instructions.

To be eligible for the lateral position, officers must have maintained their position and certification for at least two years prior to their employment with the City of Farmington.

Lateral Police Officers will be eligible for the $29,100 sign-on bonus, the requirement is a commitment to three years of continuous employment as a Police Officer with the City of Farmington.

Please not the following sign-on bonus structure:

*$9,700 upon hire

*$9,700 upon successful completion of Field Training Program

*$9,700 upon successful completion of probation. This final payment is subject to reimbursement contingent that the officer commits to three years of continuous employment as a Police Officer with the City of Farmington.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Required to perform shift work which may include days, evenings, and nights including weekends and holidays.

Works on performing security patrols, traffic control, investigation and first aid at accidents, detection, investigation and arrest of persons involved in crimes or misconduct.

Works an assigned shift using own judgment in deciding course of action being expected to handle difficult and emergency situations without assistance.

Maintains normal availability by radio or telephone to respond to police matters.

Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.

Patrols City streets, parks, commercial and residential areas to preserve the peace and enforce the law, control vehicular traffic, prevent or detect and investigate misconduct involving misdemeanors, felonies and other law violations; and to otherwise serve and protect.

Responds to emergency radio calls and investigates accidents, robberies, civil disturbances, domestic disputes, fights, drunkenness, missing children, prowlers, abuse of drugs, etc. Takes appropriate law enforcement action.

Interrogates suspects, witnesses and drivers. Preserves evidence. Arrests or cites violators. Investigates and renders assistance at scene of vehicular accidents. Summons ambulances and other law enforcement vehicles. Takes measurements and draws diagrams of scene.

Conducts follow-up investigations of crimes committed during assigned shift. Seeks out and questions victims, witnesses and suspects. Develops leads and tips. Searches scene of crimes for clues. Evaluates evidence and arrests offenders. Prepares cases for giving testimony and testifies in court proceedings.

Prepares a variety of reports such as offense/incidents, field interrogation cards, DWI, towed vehicle, and accident reports.

Undertakes community oriented police work, and assists citizens with such matters as stalled vehicles, crime prevention, drug abuse, traffic and bicycle safety, etc.

Participates in investigating criminal law violations occurring within the City limits, obtaining evidence and compiling information regarding these crimes, preparing cases for filing charges, testifying in court, and related activities.

Conducts patrol activities including directing traffic, investigation of reported or observed violations of law, and conduction patrol activities.

Coordinates activities with other officers or other City departments as needed, exchanges information with officers in other law enforcement agencies, and obtains advice from the City Attorney or district attorney's office regarding cases, policies and procedures as needed and assigned.

Maintains contact with police supervisory personnel to coordinate investigation activities, provide mutual assistance during emergency situations and provides general information about department activities.

Using excellent customer service skills establishes and maintains effective working relationships with other employees, officials, and all members of the general public.

Operates a motor vehicle to carry out the business of the department and the City.

Attendance at work is an essential function of this position.

NON-ESSENTIAL DUTIES:

Ability to operate or quickly learn to operate a personal computer using standard or customized software applications appropriate to assigned tasks.

Ability and willingness to quickly learn and put to use new skills and knowledge brought about by rapidly changing information and/or technology.

Maintains departmental equipment, supplies and facilities.

Maintains contact with general public, court officials, and other City officials in the performance of police operating activities.

May serve as a member of various employee committees.

The duties listed above are intended only as illustrations of the various types of work that may be performed. The omission of specific statements of duties does not exclude them from the position if the work is similar, related or a logical assignment to the position.

QUALIFICATIONS

This position is subject to the City of Farmington's Drug and Alcohol Testing Policy which includes, pre-employment testing, post-accident testing, random testing, reasonable suspicion testing, return to duty testing, and follow-up testing.

Extensive background checks required.

Felony convictions and disqualifying criminal histories are not allowed.

Must have LE certification.

Must not have used any illegal drugs within the past three years.

Must be of good moral character and of temperate and industrious habits.

Must be a United States Citizen.

Must be 21 years or older at the time of employment.

Must have completed 669 law enforcement training hours (Academy Training, Advanced Training, or combination of both).

Must have ability to become a certified law enforcement officer in the State of New Mexico within three year.

Must have all advanced certificates available for review.

Must submit a copy of course curriculum from police academy attended.

Must possess, or be able to obtain by time of hire, a valid New Mexico driver's license with acceptable driving record for past three years.

Must be able to read and write the English language.

Must have a high school diploma or GED equivalent.

Ability to learn the applicable laws, ordinances and department rules and regulations.

Ability to perform work requiring good physical condition.

Ability to communicate effectively orally and in writing.

Ability to establish and maintain effective working relationships with subordinates, peers and supervisors.

Ability to exercise sound judgment in evaluating situations and in making decisions.

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

Ability to learn the City's geography.

TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED:

Ability to operate a police car, police radio, radar gun, handgun and other weapons as required, straight baton, handcuffs, breathalyzer, cell phone, on-board video camera, first aid equipment and chemical agent. Extensive use of computers for dispatching, reporting and communicating is required.

PHYSICAL DEMANDS:

Must be able to frequently lift and/or move heavy objects or persons. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision depth perception and the ability to adjust focus.

Must be able to sit, stand, talk and hear. Must be able to use hands and fingers to feel objects or controls. Must be able to climb or balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, run and physically subdue combative subjects.

The employee is required to perform shift work which may include days, evenings, and nights including weekends and holidays.

REQUIRED EXAMINATIONS:

Written exam; oral board interview; psychological examinations (both written and oral); polygraph examination; medical examination; and extensive background investigation.

WORK ENVIRONMENT:

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

Work is performed inside/outside in all types of weather conditions.

The noise level in the work environment is moderate.

WE ARE AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER, M/F.