Flagstaff, Arizona — On September 12, the Coconino Board of Supervisors approved funding to train recruits and certify them as Peace Officers at the new High Country Training Academy in Flagstaff, Arizona.
Officers will be trained through the Arizona Peace Officer Standard Training (POST).
Historically, the Coconino County Sheriff’s Office, Flagstaff Police Department, and other local jurisdictions sent Peace Officer recruits to training academies in Yuma, Tucson, and elsewhere in the state. In addition to the limited availability of recruits and associated travel costs, training schedules at academies across the state do not always conform to the recruitment needs of local institutions.
“Having a police academy in the Flagstaff area is a very important initiative for us, so this new training opportunity builds on an already proven partnership.”
After several meetings between various stakeholders such as the County, City of Flagstaff, Coconino Community College (CCC) and Northern Arizona University (NAU), the High Country Training Academy will be established in 2023 and and will be available to law enforcement agencies statewide.
One of the many benefits of a local police academy is the inclusion of Flagstaff Police, Coconino Sheriff’s Deputies, and NAU Police Officers as instructors. They can provide training based on the culture of the institution and community as well as local policies and procedures.
“This is a very exciting program and one that is sorely needed here in northern Arizona,” said board chair Patrice Horstmann.
In addition to approving the contract, the Board also approved the $130,000 funding needed for FY23. According to CCC Provost Dr. Nate Southerland, the costs will be recouped by the school through the Academy’s program fees and support from his Arizona @ Work initiative. In addition to establishing a new training academy, a group of local partners have requested legislative requests to fund future joint training facilities that will include police, fire, EMS, and other first response training to be built in Coconino County. has also been convened to formulate
