Alamogordo officials are scheduled to vote Tuesday on whether to split the city's public safety department into separate fire and police agencies.
The Alamogordo Daily News reports that the City Commission has already approved the proposal once before but has to vote on it a second time for it to become law.
Officials believe the split is in the public's best interest and that it would help the city retain officers.
If the proposal is approved, the split would take place on July 1.
City officials have said that the fire department would consist of current fire staff and would be augmented by a volunteer force.
A completely professional fire department would be several years in the making.
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Information from: Alamogordo Daily News, http://www.alamogordonews.com
Copyright 2013 The Associated Press.