News and Articles
06/16/2023
Sheriff’s Deputies Salaries to Increase 6% July 1st
NEWS RELEASE
SHERIFF’S DEPUTIES SALARIES TO INCREASE 6% JULY 1st
Santa Fe, NM, June 14, 2023 – Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies will receive a six percent salary increase on July 1, 2023. The salary increase was approved by the Santa Fe County Commission, June 13, 2023.
Law enforcement agencies across the country are struggling to fill their ranks and replace veteran officers who are retiring. The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office is no different. “Being a law enforcement officer is a very difficult job and requires people who have a unique set of skills. It’s a job that not very many people can do aptly,” said Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza.
According to Mendoza “our profession has seen many changes over the years, which includes an exodus of veteran officers, new police accountability measures and increased hostility towards officers as well as a reduction in our force that we experienced during the pandemic. We are having to work very hard to fill the ranks that we need to maintain.”
Law enforcement agencies are in a race to recruit. Legislatures and local governments – county commissions and city councils – are allocating more and more funds to increase existing salaries and provide sign-up bonuses for lateral and new hires.
Since 2018, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has increased deputy salaries four times including the upcoming six percent increase slated for July 1, 2023. “Overall the Santa Fe County sheriff’s office affords exceptions for geographic area from which we draw recruits, we offer hiring bonuses, we’ve beefed up recruiting efforts, and have streamlined onboarding obstacles for potential new hires and lateral recruits,” said Sheriff Mendoza.
The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office has a total of 94 full time positions of which 16 positions are vacant. The agency is working vigorously to fill those vacancies.
Anyone with an interest working in the law enforcement profession and becoming a Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputy should contact Sheriff’s recruiters at (505) 986-2400.