Cochise Newsroom

A new public-safety workforce pipeline is taking shape at Cochise College, where five recruits make up the inaugural class of the Southeast Arizona Detention Officer Training Academy (SEADA) developed in partnership with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office.

 

The 10-week academy began Sept. 15 and includes recruits from Cochise and Apache Counties. It marks the first time detention officer training has been offered at Cochise College and creates a regional training option focused specifically on county jail operations.

 

In collaboration with the Cochise County Sheriff's Office, the curriculum was developed from the ground up. Instructors are certified Arizona Peace Officer Standards and Training general instructors, and the training materials are cross-referenced with applicable case law. Previously, detention officer recruits attended the Arizona Department of Corrections' Correctional Officer Training Academy.

 

"SEADA is the product of a deliberate and sustained collaboration between the Cochise County Sheriff's Office and Cochise College, with multiple college departments contributing their expertise to bring the program to life," said Cullen Scarborough, dean of Workforce Development at Cochise College.

 

"We wanted to provide training geared specifically for jail operations," said Captain Ariel Monge of the Cochise County Sheriff's Office. "Our vision is to work with other sheriff's offices, standardize our academy training and have other counties participate."

 

Recruits learn about correctional operations, legal responsibilities, ethics and professionalism, communication, custody and control, crisis management, officer safety and other skills needed to work in a detention setting.

 

The partnership also creates a potential pathway for people interested in public-service careers.

 

"Working for the Sheriff's Office is very meaningful," Monge shared. "You can have a fruitful career as a detention officer," with opportunities to advance within detention operations or pursue other law enforcement careers.

 

Cochise College and the Sheriff's Office envision the academy serving additional agencies while strengthening the public-safety workforce across southeastern Arizona.

 

"This is exactly the kind of workforce development partnership that defines Cochise College's," added Scarborough. "We didn't just open a classroom. We built something that will serve our region for years to come."

 

For more information about workforce development at Cochise College or SEADA, call (520) 515-3631.