Staff recognized for their dedication and contributions to community corrections
PHOENIX (Nov. 21, 2024) – The Adult and Juvenile Probation Departments, part of the Judicial Branch of Arizona in Maricopa County, continue to earn recognition for their outstanding efforts. This year, several juvenile and adult probation staff received a team award from the Arizona Chief Probation Officer Association, which celebrates the dedication and hard work of officers across the state.
Five members of the Adult Probation Department’s Safety Training Unit were honored with the Firearms Excellence in Education Awards. Most recipients have been with the department for over ten years and play a vital role in training areas such as new officer training, defensive tactics, CPR/First Aid, education and skill-building classes, and Stop The Bleed among others.
“While our officers primarily enhance community safety through changing the behavior of those under supervision, they are also peace officers in Arizona conducting searches and effective arrests,” said Chief Adult Probation Officer Michael Cimino. “Doing their work safely is only possible due to the dedicated staff providing excellence in the training delivered in the areas of defensive tactics, firearms, CPR/First Aid and much more. We are grateful for the ways their work enhances staff safety at adult and juvenile probation.”
Included in the team Firearms Excellence in Education Award was the lead safety instructor for the Juvenile Probation Department. With over 25 years of experience, the Juvenile Probation lead instructor plays a key role in developing and supporting training programs in defensive tactics, firearm training, situational awareness and other safety-focused training. He is a designated firearms and defense tactics state-wide lead for the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) and often serves as a consultant on field safety issues.
“Our department and officers are dedicated to holding youth accountable while also fostering support, motivation, and pathways for positive change and growth. Our officers aim to ensure that youth feel heard, have their struggles validated, and are given the opportunity to learn from past actions,” said Chief of Juvenile Probation Eric Meaux.
“A key part of achieving this is equipping our officers with essential training in personal safety, enabling them to carry out their work with confidence and care. This progress wouldn’t be possible without the expertise and support of our training teams, who play an invaluable role in preparing our officers for these vital public safety responsibilities.”