Hobbs considering another police pay hike amid oil boom

HOBBS, N.M. (AP) — A New Mexico city in the heart of the state's booming oil and gas country is considering giving its police officers another raise to keep them from leaving to higher paying jobs.
The Hobbs News-Sun reports that Hobbs city officials are examining a proposal that would boost the pay rate of police officers by 5 percent.
Police officers in Hobbs, New Mexico, are already the highest paid officers in southeastern New Mexico and among the highest paid city police in the state.
Hobbs Police Chief Chris McCall said the Hobbs Police Department has found itself in the position that many area businesses find themselves as the local economy bustles with oilfield activity.
The current starting pay for non-certified Hobbs police officers is $24.78 an hour, or about $51,500 annually.
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Information from: Hobbs News-Sun, http://www.hobbsnews.com