17 Yavapai County Residents Graduate from DEA Phoenix 2nd Citizen’s Academy

Audio of the article was made possible by the CAST11 Prescott Podcast Network. Production of Talking Glass Media.

Cheeri Oz, Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Phoenix Field Division Special Agent (SAC), is pleased to announce the 17 Yavapai County community members who graduated from the DEA Phoenix Field Division Civic Academy. This is his second DEA Citizen’s Academy held in Yavapai County.

A community-based training program provided civilians in the community with first-hand opportunities to understand the important tasks and jobs that DEA men and women perform every day. The program was brought to Yavapai County through the DEA’s Operation Engage, a community outreach initiative. Operation Engage is a comprehensive approach that targets the greatest local drug threats, bridging public safety and public health in each participating DEA Field Division.

The multi-week Academy at the Hampton Inn Prescott covered a variety of topics and provided attendees with an in-depth look at DEA operations. Attendees were welcomed by Phoenix Field Division Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Michael Burke, who gave a brief introduction to the history and mission of the DEA.

The Academy’s curriculum included 14 hours of classroom training by DEA Special Agents on topics such as current drug trends, drug identification, undercover operations, firearm safety, and emergency first aid. rice field. Classroom training was reinforced with his four hours at the local shooting range, his four hours of simulation exercises and Narkan his training. One of the group’s favorite training sessions was at a local shooting range where they learned about firearms safety and became familiar with shooting firearms from a DEA firearms instructor. Each presenter shared a real-world story that provided an insider’s perspective on the dangers DEA special agents and task force officers face in the field.

On Saturday, August 27, SAC Cheri Oz asked attendees to talk about their experiences and share with family, friends and neighbors new perspectives on the work done by DEA men and women. The graduation ceremony was held at Yavapai College’s Northern Arizona Her Regional Training Academy in Prescott, Arizona, and SAC Oz awarded diplomas to her 17 participants. congratulation!