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Yahoo
4 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Albuquerque police say word of mouth is their best recruiting tool
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Like police departments across the country, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is trying to boost its officer numbers. KRQE has reported on the department's recruitment initiatives, but they say they've discovered an unexpected way to recruit new cadets. Although APD does hold hiring events, they said word of mouth has been the most effective way to get people to apply. KRQE News 13 spoke with one retired police officer who says he's found new applicants at the gym. 'The gym is just where I work out, I've already recruited several people,' said Rob DeBuck, retired APD Officer. New AFR and APD boathouse will reduce water rescue response time DeBuck is a former APD officer who said he's been able to recruit more than a dozen people by simply having a conversation, saying it piques people's interest when he tells them he's a retired cop. 'I just tell them about my experiences, and I show them pictures of the horses and of the canine unit and the motorcycle unit,' said DeBuck. 'A lot of people are like, more than I expect, they're like, 'Well, how do I get into it?'' said DeBuck. APD said they currently have 879 officers but are on pace for the first time in years to hit just over 1,000 officers by the end of 2025, bringing them to full staffing. When it comes to retention, they said they're also set to keep 20 more officers this year than in 2024. Lieutenant Jennifer Garcia says the number of career opportunities within the department makes it easier for cops to find something they like and stay. 'You can do something, you can do patrol, you can go work for the horse-mounted unit, you can go do crime scene investigations, you can be on tactical, you can run a canine,' said Lt. Garcia. Drones in Blue: Albuquerque police deploying autonomous tech to 911 calls DeBuck said he believes his love for the job inspires others. He recounted one especially memorable recruit. 'And he said, 'You don't remember me, but I went to Highland High School and I got into a lot of trouble back then and you interacted with me a lot and you're the reason I became a police officer,' said DeBuck. APD said other factors have also helped when it comes to recruitment and retention, including bonuses for new and transferring officers. Between the police academies and lateral recruits, APD is expecting to add 70 officers to the force in the coming months. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Solve the daily Crossword
Yahoo
08-06-2025
- Yahoo
APD hosts training session to recruit more women into the department
ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Historically, jobs in law enforcement have been considered male-dominated, which is why the 'Women In Blue' over at APD are encouraging other women in the community to grab a seat at the table. They hope to inspire the next generation of female officers. Twenty years ago, Lt. Jennifer Garcia left her former career as a counselor to become a police officer when there weren't many opportunities for women. 'We need to have a seat at the table,' shared Garcia. It took decades for women to have the ability to move up the ranks and take on the same roles as their male counterparts, which has deterred women from seeing themselves in those positions. 'We don't have any problem recruiting male applicants, but sometimes female applicants are a little more apprehensive,' explained APD Sgt. Chermain Carter. APD: K-9 killed by 'friendly' fire during SWAT standoff According to the National Policing Institute, 50 years ago, there were fewer than a thousand female police officers. Fast forward to today, in 2025, there are about 13% or 96,000 women. APD is hoping to change that narrative in the metro. 'In today's world, women are moving into more non-traditional female jobs, occupations, and we definitely want to see that continue,' said Garcia. Saturday's Women In Blue event was all about inspiring and recruiting future female officers. Participants received first-hand knowledge about the job, the application, and the recruitment process from current female officers. And their physical capabilities were put to the test for the job. VIDEO: Surveillance video captures crash involving off-duty APD officer that severely injured man 'The event is intended to leave them walking away with a sense of newfound strength, and maybe they could surprise themselves with what they can do physically. That's what we are hoping that get out of it,' shared Carter. Over the years, events like this have helped boost female recruitment by 18% withinthe Albuquerque Police Department. To learn more about employment opportunities, click here. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
