ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (KRQE) – Like police departments across the country, the Albuquerque Police Department (APD) is trying to boost its officer numbers. KRQE has reported on the department’s recruitment initiatives, but they say they’ve discovered an unexpected way to recruit new cadets.
Although APD does hold hiring events, they said word of mouth has been the most effective way to get people to apply. KRQE News 13 spoke with one retired police officer who says he’s found new applicants at the gym. “The gym is just where I work out, I’ve already recruited several people,” said Rob DeBuck, retired APD Officer.
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DeBuck is a former APD officer who said he’s been able to recruit more than a dozen people by simply having a conversation, saying it piques people’s interest when he tells them he’s a retired cop. “I just tell them about my experiences, and I show them pictures of the horses and of the canine unit and the motorcycle unit,” said DeBuck.
“A lot of people are like, more than I expect, they’re like, ‘Well, how do I get into it?’” said DeBuck…