In response to a community demand for affordable, fast training programs to increase the knowledge and efficiency of Valley police officers, Estrella Mountain Community College's (EMCC) Administration of Justice Program will host its first ever POST training credit qualifying weekend institute, April 16 and 17 to nearly 100 police officers and Criminal Justice students from all over the state and the local Phoenix area. In addition to valuable information that increases the effectiveness of first responders, the seminar also gives public safety professionals an opportunity to interact with others in their field, something that can only benefit the local and statewide communities.
This seminar features riveting yet vital information on the topic of Crime Scene and Dead Body Investigations, and will be taught by practitioners in the field of crime scene investigation and forensic science. On Friday, Detective Mark A. Smith, Maricopa County Attorney's Office Major Crimes Unit will inform attendees on the topic of "Crime Scene Mistakes and Search and Seizure Issues," while Crime Lab Specialist Jeanna M. Nevitt, Maricopa County Sherrif's Office will present the topic "Processing and Colletion of Evidence at Crime Scenes." Saturday will be devoted to Forensic Medical Investigator Doug Scoopmire, Pima County Forensic Science Center's discussion "Mediological Death Investigation, Techniques and Procedures." Administration of Justic Program Coordinator Eddie Zuleger hopes to expand the seminar offerings, perhaps including a weekend institute on the topic of serial killers. The seminar costs $50.00, and has already drawn the attention of officers and students from all over the Valley, including Buckeye, Avondale, Goodyear, and as far away as Kingman and Bullhead City.
The seminar provides Arizona police officers with a chance to earn POST qualifying training credits in topics that enhance their skills and performance levels within their community. In addition to programs relating to investigation techniques, Estrella Mountain also offers additional courses tailored to the law enforcement community, including a Spanish for Police course and hopes to expand their offerings in this area. According to Zuleger, services like these are among those most important a college can offer its growing community. "I cannot stress enough how valuable it is that the college is making this kind of training program available to the public, affordably," Zuleger says. Zuleger himself brings a solid base of knowledge in this field; in addition to 9 years experience as an Investigative Manager (Captain) for the Department of Corrections, Zuleger is also a retired Sherriff's Office Lieutenant with the Maricopa County Sheriff's Office.
As one of Estrella Mountain's newest programs, the Administration of Justice Studies program fulfills a District-wide promise to answer questions of workforce deficit and improve community resources by preparing students for positions in the criminal justice system, and strengthening the skills and knowledge-base of professionals in areas of public safety. This commitment results in a wide-range of community focused activities, everything from seminars like these to the Cities of Avondale and Goodyear's summer teen police academy.
For more information about this and future seminars, contact Eddie Zuleger, (623) 935-8310. Estrella Mountain Community College is one of the ten Maricopa Community Colleges. Located on Thomas and Dysart Roads in Avondale, the college offers academic and occupational courses for West Valley residents. For more information, contact Nicole DeLeon, Marketing and Public Relations Department,at Estrella Mountain Community College (623) 935-8056. For more information about Maricopa Community College District's Workforce Education practices, visit http://www.maricopa.edu/workforce.