ALBUQUERQUE ISN'T THE ONLY NEW MEXICO COMMUNITY LOOKING AT THE STAFFING LEVELS OF ITS POLICE DEPARTMENT. RIO RANCHO IS NOW LOOKING AT ITS NEEDS IN THE YEARS TO COME AS THE COMMUNITY EXPANDS. ASSISTANT CITY MANAGER LAURA FITZPATRICK SAYS THE STUDY SHOULD BE COMPLETED NEXT SPRING.
FITZPATRICK SAYS IT FOCUSES NOT ONLY ON STAFFING LEVELS, BUT WORKLOAD, INCLUDING THE NUMBER OF AND TYPE OF CALLS COMING IN. SHE SAYS THAT HELPS DETERMINE STAFFING NEEDS.
THERE ARE NOW 129 OFFICERS ON THE RIO RANCHO POLICE FORCE. EARLIER THIS YEAR, RETIRING POLICE CHIEF BOB BOONE ESTIMATED THE DEPARTMENT WOULD NEED JUST OVER 160 OFFICERS.
