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Pay for police variesRecently two deputies resigned from the Valencia County Sheriffs Department and almost immediately went to work as police officers in Los Lunas.One of the men readily admitted he left the county job because the Los Lunas force had better working conditions and pay.Both the county and Los Lunas, however, start their officers at $550 a month. The highest paid policeman in the area are in Bosque Farms, which starts them at about $607 a month. Jo Thompson. Bosque Farms clerk-treasurer, said policemen are currently on an hourly pay basis.The lowest starting salary for policemen in the area is in Belen where it’s $420 a month.Comparing benefits between the Village of Los Lunas and the county, there are advantages and disadvantages on both sides. The county offers * two weeks vacation the first year and every year after, whereas the Villageoffers one week for the first year and two weeks every year after that for 10 years.Los Lunas supplies uniforms and cleaning allowances. “All equipment is furnished by the village, according to Clerk-Treasurer Augustin Archuleta.Sheriff Nick Sanchez said, “We try to outfit the men as much as we can.” He said that he will be requesting more money for pay and equipment in the county’s 1976-77 fiscal budget.Bosque Farms gives a uniform allowance and provides guns for its officers. Belen furnishes uniforms but the officers must furnish their own gun.Hours vary for the different agencies, also. The county works its employes five days a week on 10-hour shifts. The men work on holidays, but Sanchez said they are compensated for that time.Los Lunas offers its men nineholidays plus their birthday off. Police Chief Bill Place said that his men can add this to their vacation. He said they work eight-hour shifts -- six days on, two days off.Belen policemen work five days a week, eight hours a day. Most other communities our size work six days a week,” City Manager Richard Aragon said.Comparing the size of the three local police departments, Bosque Farms has three men and two police cars, Los Lunas has four cars and seven men including Placet He said he expects to add some new people this summer when areas are annexed to the Village. Belen Chief Joe Gabaldon said his department currently has eight men but needs another one. Belen has four police cars.The Sheriffs Department has 24 employes including eight deputies and three investigators in Eastern Valencia County.
Newspaper Details
Belen News Bulletin
Belen, New Mexico, US
Thu, Apr 29, 1976
Page 8
Full Page
Clipped by
Anonymous
AU 15 Dec 2024
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