POLICE STAFFING IN RIO RANCHO IS AT CRISIS LEVELS. THAT FROM CHIEF ROBERT BOONE WHO TELLS US HIS DEPARTMENT IS STRETCHED THIN AFTER THE CITY'S POPULATION HAS GROWN 72 PERCENT SINCE 2000 ... BUT THE INCREASE IN OFFICERS IS ONLY 27 PERCENT SINCE THEN. BOONE SAYS MOST OFFICERS ARE REPRESENTED BY A UNION, WHICH PRESENTS MORE PROBLEMS FOR CONTRACT TALKS: COMING UP WITH MONEY FOR RAISES TO KEEP OFFICERS.
BOONE SAYS THE SOLUTION DEPENDS ON THE END OF THE RECESSION, RIO RANCHO'S CONTINUED GROWTH, AND CONDITIONS THAT'LL ALLOW FOR MORE STAFFING. BUT HE SAYS A LOT OF THEIR OFFICERS ARE TESTING WITH NEARBY POLICE AGENCIES ... BASED ON PAY. HE SAYS THE TOP COMPETITOR IS THE ALBUQUERQUE POLICE DEPARTMENT.