Published on August 17, 2023
Motivated by the community to make a difference, Maricopa Police Department’s newest officers say they want to build relationships with the people they will be protecting every day. Officers Hernandez, Dixon, and Peterson graduated from the Gilbert Regional Academy Thursday evening alongside 21 other recruits from Gila River, Apache Junction, Casa Grande, Gilbert, and Queen Creek Police Departments, as well as the Pinal County Sheriff’s Office. Following the academy, our new officers will be paired with a Field Training Officer for further on-the-job training requirements. “These officers have shown up and put in countless hours studying, running scenarios, and pushing themselves to be in the best shape possible over the past three months,” Chief Mark Goodman shares. “We are excited to celebrate their accomplishments at the academy and look to the next phase of their careers, serving the residents of Maricopa.” We would like you to join us in welcoming these officers into the community and learn more about what drives their commitment to helping the City of Maricopa remain one of the safest cities in Arizona. Here is what they each had to say. Question: Can you share your experience and key takeaways from your training at the police academy? How do you feel this training has prepared you for the challenges of a law enforcement career? Officer Dixon: My biggest takeaway from the academy is how much we actually do as police officers. I never really thought about the various calls we get sent out to. Throughout the academy, we experienced different classes, scenarios, and situations that opened my eyes to the depth of what being an officer is like and what the day-to-day will look like. Officer Hernandez: Law enforcement is a challenging career because of the potentially dangerous situations we as officers face. These are things the community shouldn’t have to deal with. The training I received at the police academy prepared me to deal with the worst situations in the community and, more importantly, what it means to serve the community. Officer Peterson: The academy challenges everyone in different ways. I feel that the experience I gained in the academy brought me a newfound confidence that will help me throughout my career. Overall, the training has taught me how to process complex problems in order to be a better problem solver. Question: What motivated you to choose the Maricopa Police Department as the place to start your career? Officer Hernandez:I have lived in Arizona my entire life, in the city of Yuma. I wanted to obtain employment in a city closer to the big cities but small enough for me to be involved in the community and raise my children. Maricopa just seemed exactly what I was looking for. A smaller town with a community encouraging growth. Officer Peterson:I chose Maricopa because it reminds me of home. I grew up in the small town of Vail, Arizona, so Maricopa gives me the same “small-town vibes” I am familiar with. The department's values and mission are very community-oriented, and I am a big believer in community and bringing people together. Officer Dixon:I was a manager at the QuickTrip in town many years ago. Working there and interacting with the community and the officers who would come through, I saw firsthand the department's focus on community policing. Seeing the officers care for their city made the department stand out, and I wanted to be a part of that. Question: How do you perceive the role of community engagement and relationship-building in your work as a new officer at the Maricopa Police Department? Officer Peterson:Being a police officer means you’re always out and about in the community and always in the spotlight. I see this as a positive, as it allows me to build relationships with business owners, citizens, and others to keep Maricopa safe. Having more eyes and ears looking out for the community is the idea of community policing. I also plan to get involved with the schools through different avenues. I want to go back to my roots which are sports, and find ways to get more youth involved in sports leagues - a positive outlet for those who might not have the support they need to succeed. Officer Dixon: Building positive relationships within the community is crucial. It will not only create trust between the Police and the community, but that relationship will create a safer city for all of us. That starts with just having a presence and interacting within the community. I believe this is the most significant way to gain trust and build those positive relationships. Officer Hernandez: Involving the community with crime prevention and educating them on ways to help build a safer community for everyone is something I see benefiting everyone in Maricopa. Officers can only be in so many places at once, so knowing we have the community’s support is essential.