POLICE DETECTIVE

Salary: $38.52 - $51.62 Hourly
Location : Hobbs, NM
Job Type: Full Time NonExempt
Job Number:
Department: HOBBS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Opening Date: 03/23/2026

Description

Performs technical law enforcement work as a non-uniformed police officer in the investigation of crime and the detection and prevention of violations of the law.
Essential Duties

• Regular attendance is required to perform the duties of this position. Performs skilled investigative work involving alleged crimes against persons or property, in the office and the field under minimal supervision.
• Obtains written or tape-recorded statements, depositions, or admissions. Questions or interrogates complainants, witnesses and suspects; Apprehends suspects and makes arrests.
• Prepares and serves search warrants. Searches crime scenes for and secures evidence to be collected.
• Provides for witness or victim preparation and management, including transportation as required.
• Contacts other agencies and law enforcement jurisdictions to exchange information, including but not limited to military, NCIC, FBI, DEA, ATF and other criminal history or intelligence resources.
• Responds to the Lea County Correctional Facility (LCCF) for investigation and scene processing of all "on site" felony crimes, preparing and submitting the proper report(s) as well as obtaining necessary search and arrest warrants.
• Prepares, submits and follows up on crime laboratory requests. Reviews cases being prepared for trial with emphasis on the evidentiary and legal issues crucial to successful prosecution. Prepares detailed reports of activities and investigations made; Consults with prosecutors and prepares case reports for court action; Testifies in court.
• Assists in obtaining, enhancing, preparing or presenting exhibits or other evidence in court as required.
• Coordinates with Medical Examiner assigned to handle death investigations; Attends autopsies as required. Responds to Hospice Death scenes, conducting a brief investigation of the scene, observing the destruction of decedent's medications, preparing and submitting the proper report.
• Conducts sensitive investigations into allegations of official misconduct or violations of law by public officials or police officers.
• Conducts detailed criminal case analysis following the arrest of a suspect, with emphasis on counteracting specific legal defenses.
• Assists in case reviews or plea-bargaining negotiations with defense counsel as requested by the prosecuting attorney. Performs fingerprinting (latent), photography and other types of laboratory testing.
• Conducts narcotics investigations, including the field testing of suspected controlled substances.
• Locates and interviews those listed on defense witness lists, as required. Assists in providing training to department officers in the area of criminal investigations.
• Maintains normal availability by pager, radio or telephone; Assumes responsibility and command of those crime scenes assigned for investigation.
• Carries out duties in conformance with Federal, State, County, and City laws and ordinances.
• Maintains proficiency with authorized and issued weapons.

Minimum Qualifications
Education and Experience:

Graduation from high school or GED equivalent.

Minimum of 2 years law enforcement experience, Completion of a State Basic Training Academy and the ability to obtain a New Mexico Law Enforcement Certification.
Desired Qualifications

Certified law enforcement officer with at least one year serving in an investigation's capacity. Knowledge and experience in working with computer forensics, ballistic comparisons, shooting reconstruction, fingerprint identification, sex crimes, and property and person crimes.
Skills, Knowledge and Abilities:

Considerable knowledge of modern law enforcement principles, procedures, techniques, and equipment; Considerable knowledge of investigative practices and procedures; Considerable knowledge of proper methods of securing, handling, and preserving evidence; Working knowledge of security clearance access to law enforcement, court, State and Federal and other criminal history resources.

Ability to analyze complex situations, problems and data, and use sound judgment in drawing conclusions and making decisions; Ability to comprehend and articulate complex facts and relationships in detail and to summarize and write clearly, concisely and legibly, and to testify in court in an objective, concise and professional manner; Ability to produce or obtain reports, graphs, charts, photographs of the evidence or exhibits;

Ability to effectively communicate orally and in writing; ability to maintain effective working relationships with fellow employees, supervisors, and the public.

Ability to follow verbal and written instructions.

Ability to meet the special requirements listed below.
Skill in operation of listed tools and equipment.
TOOLS AND EQUIPMENT USED

Personal computer, digital camera, digital video recorders, police vehicle, police radio, semi-automatic rifle, handgun and other weapons as required, handcuffs, cellular phone, narcotics field test kit, first aid equipment.
LICENSING AND CERTIFICATIONS

Valid State issued Driver's License

CPR/First Aid certification
Residency requirement: Reside within a fifty (50) mile planning radius of the City (unless approved by the Chief or designee). Take home vehicles will be provided for employees who permanently reside within Lea County, New Mexico. Employees residing outside of Lea County, New Mexico will not be provided a take a home vehicle and will be required to leave their assigned unit at the Hobbs Police Station.
SUPERVISION RECEIVED

Works under the general supervision of the Criminal Investigation Sergeant.
SUPERVISION EXERCISED

None

Physical Demands & Work Environment

PHYSICAL DEMANDS

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. The majority of the time, heavy physical activity is not required. However, a Police Officer needs to be able to actively respond to any situation in which the public or an officer may be in danger. The ability to physically interact with another person, including restraint, arrest, rescue, and defense of the employee or others is an essential function of the job.

While performing the duties of this position, the employee is frequently required to sit, run, lift, talk and hear. The employee is routinely required to stand, walk, use hands to finger, handle, and feel objects, tools, and controls; reach with hands and arms; climb, balance, stoop, kneel, crouch, crawl, taste and smell. The employee must be able to operate all authorized and issued weapons, equipment and motor vehicle.

The employee must occasionally lift and/or move heavy objects or people. The minimum physical limits are specified in the Protocol for Job Specific Tasks and standards set by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy. These are simulated through a series of job specific tasks designed to ensure the employee can lift 70 pounds floor to knuckle and 40 pounds knuckle to shoulder; lift and move a 150 pound dummy onto a stretcher, quickly run up and down three flights of stairs without exceeding 80 percent of the Maximum Percentage of Heart Rate (MPHR), successfully climb over a five foot wall, crawl 25 feet at a continuous pace, and walk the length of a 4 inch wide beam six times. The employee may also be required to complete the following fitness screening in specified times which are gender and age normed: push-ups, sit-ups, mile and a half run, flexibility and 300-meter run.

Vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception, and the ability to adjust focus. Minimum vision abilities set by the New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy are as follows: uncorrected distance vision should be be no more than 20/100, correctable to at least 20/30; near vision correctable to at least 20/40; color vision correct reading of at least nine or more of the first thirteen plates of the Ishihara test; depth perception should be sufficient to demonstrate normal stereo depth perception with/without correction to the standard-100 ARC seconds. Minimal hearing acuity should be the average hearing level at the test frequencies, 500, 1000, and 2000 Hz will not exceed 25dB in either ear, and no single hearing level will exceed 30dB at any of these test frequencies in either ear. Hearing loss at 3000Hz will not exceed 40dB HL in either ear. State or New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy requirements shall be the minimum standards applicable.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those an employee encounters while performing the essential functions of this job.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee occasionally works in outside weather conditions. The employee occasionally works in high, precarious places; and with explosives and is occasionally exposed to wet and/or humid conditions, fumes or airborne particles, toxic or caustic chemicals, extreme cold, extreme heat and vibration.

The noise level in the work environment is usually quiet while in the office, and moderately noisy while in the field.

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.

• The City of Hobbs will provide 80% to 90% Heath Insurance Coverage from Single to Family coverage.
• Employees are eligible for 100% short-term disability coverage provided by the City of Hobbs.
• Employer PERA contributions 14.8% for general, 28.775% for HPD, 30.9% for HFD.
• CDL pay - $6,000 per year (if applicable).
• PTO accruals start at 12 hours per month (144 hours per year) and progressively increase based on years of service to 20 hours per month (240 hours per year) at year 21.
• Bilingual Pay - $1,500 dollar incentive per year upon completion of yearly proficiency test.
• Education Incentive - ($1,000, $4,000, $6,000 dollars - Associates, Bachelor's, Masters; degree must be relevant to position and above the current minimum requirements of the held position).
• Longevity Pay - Begins at the completion of 10 years of service. Gradually increased.
• Retention Incentive - $600 incentive yearly with years 1-9 of completed service
• 13 Paid Holidays.
• Bereavement Leave - 5 days per calendar year per personnel rules guidelines.
• Military Leave - (120 hours per year for general, 183.75 per year for HPD, 360 hours per year for HFD).

01

Do you currently have a New Mexico Law Enforcement certification or have the ability to obtain one within one year from date of hire?
02

How many years of experience do you have in modern, compensable, commissioned police work?
Required Question