REQUIREMENTS, ACADEMY INFORMATION & FIELD TRAINING

Requirements

• Must be 21 years old (by the time of graduation from the academy)
• Must have a High School diploma or GED
• Must be a United States citizen
• Must have a current, valid driver’s license, able to obtain a NM driver’s license
• Must meet all applicable physical standards required by the State of New Mexico
• Lateral applicants must be a certified law enforcement officer. Sometimes those who have completed a law enforcement academy elsewhere may qualify if they meet certain criteria

Academy

The San Juan County Sheriff’s Office is proud to be a member of the San Juan County Criminal Justice Training Authority (SJCCJTA). SJCCJTA hosts a satellite basic police academy, enabling our entry level deputies to attend a local police academy and avoid traveling to and from Santa Fe each week. Instructors at the academy consist of deputies and officers from local agencies and other law enforcement related professionals. While the basic police academy curriculum is established statewide, our cadets are exposed to many local needs above and beyond the basic curriculum. Along with the basic academy, SJCCJTA also hosts the required biennium in-service training as well as a myriad of other advanced training classes throughout the year.

For entry level deputies who are not certified, the current basic police academy is 24 weeks. Academy training covers the entire gamut of topics from law to physical fitness, firearms to first aid, and everything in between. At the conclusion of the academy, cadets are administered the state certification exam (LEOCE) to become New Mexico certified peace officers.

The academy schedule is primarily a 5 days per week/8 hours per day schedule; however, some nights and weekends may be required. San Juan County Sheriff’s Office employees who are attending the academy are paid their full wages and receive any and all benefits afforded to them.

For more information on the San Juan County Criminal Justice Training Authority, please visit their website at: www.sjccjta.org

Field Training

Upon successful completion of the basic police academy, newly certified deputies are assigned to the 15 week field training and evaluation program (FTEP). FTEP is an intensive “on-the-job-training” which prepares newly certified deputies to perform the essential tasks of a patrol deputy. Trainees are required to complete three program phases under the close supervision of field training officers and must also successfully complete a minimum “work proficiency standard” to move on to the final portion known as “hot seat”, an evaluation only phase to ensure trainees are prepared to be on their own.

Deputies who were previously certified as law enforcement officers “laterals” must complete a minimum of five weeks in the FTEP program. The same work proficiency standards must be met for release from the program.

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