EL PASO, Texas (KTSM) — The Las Cruces Police Department says it's still accepting applications for its training academy, and cadets and officer trainees will receive a higher salary starting in January 2025. The Police Department says starting on Jan. 1, 2025, cadets will be paid $24 per hour or $49,920 annually while in the academy and new graduates or officer-trainees will earn $26 per hour or $54,000 annually. Officer-trainees who complete their first year earn $28.84 per hour plus overtime. Applications for Police Cadet must be submitted no later than Dec. 2 and the academy is set to begin in March 2025. The Police Department says it offers hiring incentives for cadets with a three-year commitment. The incentives are non-stackable. Those are the following: $11,000 for each cadet $15,000 for an associate degree $20,000 for bachelor’s degree or four years of honorable military service or retirement from military $25,000 for bachelor’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology $30,000 for master’s degree in sociology, psychology, criminal justice or criminology Recruits who live outside of Las Cruces may be eligible for up to $5,000 in relocation assistance. Applicants are required to be U.S. citizens, at least 19 years old when the application is submitted, have at least a high school diploma, and have no felony convictions. For more information and to apply, click here: Las Cruces Police. "The Las Cruces Police Department is allocated 220 commissioned officers. The department currently employs 183 officers," the Police Department said.