If you want a rewarding career with the opportunity to make a difference by saving and protecting others, where you enjoy team camaraderie and don't sit behind a desk, law enforcement could be an excellent career choice for you.
You must be in good physical condition, possess solid communication skills and have the decision-making abilities and temperament to successfully manage stressful and often dangerous situations. Jobs in this field are generally stable and have good healthcare and retirement benefits.
Northland Pioneer College partners with the law enforcement agencies of Apache and Navajo counties to offer intensive police officer training through NPC's Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA). The only police academy in northeastern Arizona.
Northland Pioneer College’s Administration of Justice Studies program is designed to:
- Prepare students for a career in judicial studies, law enforcement, corrections, and 911 dispatching.
- Provide students with a better understanding of criminal justice and public safety services.
- Meet the minimum standards of training for those that wish to be law enforcement officers in Arizona.
- Provide a basic understanding of the role administration of justice plays in society.
The Peace Officer (CP) program prepares students for service as sworn police officers by completing the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training (AZPOST) curriculum. AZPOST establishes the minimum requirements for recruits in police academies in Arizona. (NALETA can only enroll trainees sponsored by a local law enforcement agency.)
- Courses in this program are taught at the Northeast Arizona Training Center (NATC) in Taylor.
- Contact NALETA for more information about this program and the date of the next Academy.
The Associate of Applied Science in Administration of Justice Studies (AAS) provides students with opportunities for continuing education and professional growth in support of career promotions. Students wishing to transfer to four-year institutions will have the academic foundation applicable to various career fields such as corrections, patrol officers, deputies, park rangers, fish and game wardens, and court officers.
Read our story about police academy graduate, Stratton Hatch.
Labs and Classrooms
The Northeastern Arizona Law Enforcement Training Academy (NALETA) meets at NPC's (NATC) training center in Taylor, which includes a 10-acre defensive driving course, shooting range, and physical training facilities.
- NPC's police academy offers an intensive 18-week curriculum that meets Monday through Thursday, 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Contact NALETA for the date of the next Academy.]
- Classes are divided between lecture and hands-on training and provide 700 hours of classroom instruction.
- Graduates earn 36 hours of NPC college credit.
- Faculty members include certified law enforcement officers and staff from the Navajo County Attorney’s Office.
Program Locations
Jake Flake Emergency Services Institute
Northeast Arizona Training Center (NATC)
1840 Papermill Road
Taylor, Arizona 85939
Entry Requirements
You MUST first be sponsored by a local law enforcement agency to enroll in NALETA.
Potential recruits must first apply to a police department or sheriff’s office where they wish to begin their law enforcement career. The selected agency determines applicant eligibility. Basic minimums require applicants be U.S. citizens, 21 years of age (or be 21 by the end of academy training) who have a high school diploma or GED. For a complete list of Arizona eligibility requirements, visit the AzPOST website and select “Certification Process” in the header.
- Determining academy eligibility can take from four to eight weeks, so applicants should contact their selected law enforcement agency well before the start of classes.
Work Environment
Not only is the field of administration of justice dangerous and complex, as a law enforcement officer you are frequently the first emergency personnel at the scene of a traffic accident or medical emergency and may be called upon to treat injuries or perform other vital functions. Through cooperation with local police departments, you’ll train to deal with these and other critical situations, as well as the use of firearms and specialized emergency equipment.
Law enforcement work can be physically demanding, stressful, and dangerous. Officers must be alert and ready to react throughout their entire shift. Officers regularly work at crime and accident scenes and deal with the death and suffering they encounter there. Although a career in law enforcement may be stressful, many officers find it rewarding to help members of their communities.
Job Outlook
The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports a stable outlook for jobs with local law enforcement agencies. However, openings at the state and federal level are regarded as exceptionally competitive. In Apache and Navajo counties, the chances for employment are enhanced by the presence of this centrally-located academy training, as most law enforcement agencies prefer previously certified applicants. NALETA graduates who become POST-certified generally may gain initial employment as reserve officers and enjoy a decisive hiring edge when regular officer positions become available.
Would you rather have an office job or an officer job? Local governments employ about 80% of law enforcement workers, and 20% are employed by the federal government. Police jobs are expected to grow by 10% over the next decade, with an edge going to applicants with a college education.
Salary
Smaller agencies in non-metropolitan areas of northern Arizona pay, on average, about $61,000 a year, plus insurance and retirement benefits
Potential Job Titles
Patrol officer, deputy sheriff, fish and game warden, detective, transit officer, park ranger, border patrol agent, 911 dispatcher
Accreditation/Affiliations
NALETA is designed to meet the official state law enforcement officer certification standards set by the Arizona Peace Officers Standards and Training (AzPOST) agency.
Locations
Contact Information
1840 Papermill Road
Jake Flake Emergency Services Training Center
Taylor,
AZ 85939
Student Profiles
