Students at one Arizona public high school have an opportunity to explore whether a career in the law or public safety is something they may be interested in, all while earning college credits.
Walden Grove High School in Sahuarita, south of Tucson, offers a two-year Law & Public Safety program through the Pima Community College’s Joint Technical Education District. Students who successfully complete the program can earn up to 12 college credits which transfer to any state college or university.
The Walden Grove program provides many of the same hands-on training activities as a police academy and students have a chance to take part in skills competitions against each other and other schools. But program director Douglas Hansen says the purpose of the program goes well beyond whether any of the program’s 500 students since 2016 pursue a specific career.
Hansen is a retired FBI agent and an adjunct professor at PCC where he teaches Administration of Justice Studies. He says students accepted into the program are put under a lot of pressure to given them a realistic idea of the demands faced by those who choose careers in the law, public safety, and related fields.
This includes what Hansen says is “a lot” of report writing with deadlines, as well as frequent inspections and 80 to 85 percent practical skills training. There are also weekly lectures featuring professionals who share their experiences with students, although Hansen told Arizona Daily Independent the program is not focused on recruiting students to become police officers.
“We help students prepare themselves with job interviews and write resumes regardless of what field they choose,” he explained. “We focus on personal skills -things like integrity, work ethics, and responsibility- as well as technical skills. And we emphasize workplace skills that are important in any type of jobs, things like communications, teamwork, and leadership.”
That is why, according to Hansen, he has seen Law & Public Safety program graduates drawn to a variety of careers, including firefighting, attorney, victim rights specialist, and nursing. And of course, various law enforcement positions.
For those interested in becoming a peace officer, a federal agent, or perhaps a correctional or probation officer, the program has its own board made up mostly of current and former public safety professionals. This helps Hansen receive input and feedback to ensure the curriculum meets the needs of students and as well as hiring agencies.
Key among those needs is applicants who have critical thinking skills. To that end, Walden Grove has something few high schools in the country have – a MILO Firearms Training Simulator. Although students never use live firearms, the simulator allows students to work through hundreds of potential public safety emergencies, many which may never require use of deadly force.
“The greatest tool our students have it their brain, and we work extremely hard on our practical application about what they need to do in specific situations,” Hansen explained. “Whether to talk, or whether it is necessary to step up the response based on how the other person is acting.”
Students are also prohibited from driving the two police cars donated to the program, but that doesn’t mean the vehicles are not important to the training. Hansen says students can learn several practical skills just sitting in a patrol car.
“They do radio work and get used to the sirens and lights,” he said. “They also learn patience and situational awareness.”
Hansen began planning the Walden Grove program in 2015 and formally kicked it off in 2016. He has been invited to help establish a similar Law & Public Safety program at a high school in Georgia later this year. But for now, his focus is on seeking financial support for Walden Grove’s program to help cover students’ costs for uniforms and equipment, or their participation in various competitions.
One option for those interested in helping is to make a designated Arizona tax-credit eligible donation to the Sahuarita Unified School District. Go here and under Program choose Other. Then type in Law and Public Safety.
Meanwhile, supporters of the Walden Grove program have undertaken a separate fundraising effort which allows students to make the spending decisions, subject to compliance with myriad state and federal laws. More information about the fundraiser is available at: https://wefund4u.com/fundraiser/waldeng21law/c/24995/
