SANTA FE, N.M. -- The Santa Fe Police Department is having trouble filling police jobs, so it is looking into the possibility of recruiting Mexican nationals.

Sergeants Gillian Alessio and Marvin Paulk are in charge of the department's recruiting and training.They said on Tuesday that they're trying to think of alternative methods of filling 20 vacancies on the city's 155-person police force.

But Santa Fe Police Chief Eric Johnson said New Mexico Law Enforcement Academy regulations prohibit non-citizens from serving as police officers.

Alessio said the Santa Fe police force, like others around the country, is vying to recruit the same 21- to 30-year-olds as the U.S. military.Alessio said the national need for military recruits is taking a toll on the police department.