Training & Education a Key Part of Maricopa’s Safety

Published on May 02, 2024

Fire Chief Brad Pitassi and Police Chief Mark Goodman say they are constantly asked if Maricopa’s Police and Fire Departments are equipped to handle the calls they receive as the city grows. Without hesitation, their answer is yes. However, that is not without two key components – Training and Education. 

“In Maricopa, we understand that preparedness is our community’s greatest asset when facing emergencies,” Fire Chief Pitassi shares. “By investing in training and education, we not only enhance the skills of our first responders but also empower our community to take an active role in their safety.”

He says that culminates in Maricopa’s public safety departments participating in events such as Don’t Crash the Prom. It’s an annual event hosted at the local high schools that simulate a mock DUI crash. Police officers and firefighters are joined by our community partners and run through the scenario as if it were a real-life occurrence. The hope is that it will leave an impression on the high schoolers watching and give firefighters and officers the chance to train on how to handle these situations.  

“My utmost hope is that DUI crashes and the tragedies portrayed in events like 'Don't Crash the Prom' never become a reality in our community. However, in public safety, we must prepare for the worst while striving for the best,” Police Chief Goodman says.  

He adds that safety is a shared responsibility between public safety staff and the community.  

“By providing our residents with the knowledge and tools they need to recognize and respond to potential threats, we empower them to become active participants in safeguarding our neighborhoods,” Chief Goodman says. “With today’s exercise, we are educating our future leaders about the impact small decisions make, including how devastating the choice to drink and drive can be on themselves and others around them.”  

In addition to these scenarios, the fire and police departments undergo extensive year-round training.  

For the fire department, staff participate in crew training every shift and attend regional training with our Phoenix Automatic Aid partners every quarter. They cover patient care, EMS medical updates, wildland fire and water rescue techniques, and multi-story and high-rise fire and rescue training, just to name a few.  

“Some people may think it’s odd, but MFMD has been training on multi-story buildings or apartment complexes since before there were any in Maricopa,” Fire Chief Pitassi shares. “We entered the Phoenix Regional Automatic Aid contract in 2007. We are held to the same training standard as the downtown Phoenix Fire Department members, whose primary fire calls are in large buildings and apartments. In automatic aid, if we are called, we go, and that means we need to be able to respond wherever we are needed in the system, no matter the building type or hazard.”   

“It is a very high standard to meet, and we have been doing it since we became the City of Maricopa Fire Medical Department in 2007.” 

The police department focuses on honing an officer’s conflict resolution and de-escalation skills. This, combined with physical fitness, are the skills an officer uses most often.  
 
“By investing in these critical areas of expertise, we equip our officers with the tools to navigate complex situations with empathy, understanding, and, above all, a commitment to preserving life and promoting peaceful resolutions,” Police Chief Goodman says.