By Corrections1 Staff
ESPANOLA, N.M. — There’s nothing wrong with getting an early start on a career in corrections, but this is a bit extreme.
At the Espanola police department, a teenager was hired to work as an officer in the county jail — while she was still in high school.
The unfortunate hiring decision came to light this week after an inmate escaped while being transported to a local hospital under the teenage officer’s watch.
KRQE News 13 reported that Allen Pacheco, after being arrested for shoplifting, hit officer Santana Bustamante in the face, slipped out of his handcuffs, and then jumped over a barb wire fence. Pacheco later turned himself in to state police.
Bustamante’s hiring was approved by Espanola Police Chief Joe Martinez, who told News 13 that Bustamante was the daughter of his friend.
The high school student failed to meet one crucial requirement for the job: a high school diploma. News 13 reported that she had no formal training and did not carry mace or a Taser.
According to KRQE.com, Bustamante was hired because the Espanola Police Department was desperate for a female guard, and she was the only candidate capable of passing the required fitness test.