The Moriarty City Council on Wednesday unanimously approved hiring five police officers and offering training incentives for officers to receive certain types of certification.
The incentives will encourage officers to seek training in general instruction, firearm instruction, field officer training and evidence technician.
Chief Adan Urbina said those certifications often require classes.
“That’s a lot of responsibility,” he said.
Urbina said there are other city departments that offer similar incentives.
The City Council expressed support for the incentives.
“I’m quite surprised it wasn’t already in place. So there should be some incentives for having to carry the certification,” Councilor Kim Garcia said when she made the motion to approve the incentives.
The police department currently responds to calls until 6 p.m. and then the Torrance County Sheriff’s Office takes over calls overnight.