Interested in a career in law enforcement? Learn more on what it’s like to work for the Marana Police Department from our latest recruits:
Applicants first participate in a physical fitness test and a series of oral boards before entering into the Police Academy. In preparation for the academy, the Town of Marana offers a “pre-academy”—two weeks of instruction to help get the recruits familiar with what they’ll experience for the next 22 weeks of the academy.
Graduates of the Police Academy then complete a 3-week post-academy, where they receive issued gear, complete more physical training, brush up on defensive tactics, and learn the specifics of how Marana operates that differs from surrounding cities.
Now as police officers, our four new members of the Marana Police Department are working through 14 weeks of field training, broken up into phases of learning observation, use of force, culmination, and a final two-week evaluation to determine if they’re prepared to work on their own.
Gary Rodriguez moved to Marana from Washington D.C. and applied to the Marana Police Department after several members of the community recommended the opportunity to him. “It was clear that people held Marana Police to high regard,” said Rodriguez. “I was new to the area, so the reputation of the MPD appealed to me, especially their fundraising and overall impact on the community.”
Rodriguez was looking for a career change with structure and opportunity for advancement, and while the Marana police met both those criteria, it was the community aspect that sealed the deal for him. Rodriguez applied in November and is now a Marana police officer and a member of the Army National Guard, playing guitar for the band.
No one understands the reputation of the Marana Police Department like the locals, which is why so many officers are born and raised right here in the area. Devin Samorano is a perfect example of this, whose goals of becoming a police officer started with his older brother, another Marana police officer. Samorano did a ride-along with his brother four years ago and wanted to follow suit after watching him grow into the position.
“Completing the academy showed me the values of this job and how to make a difference,” said Samorano. “My whole family has been in law enforcement and I always wanted to stay in Marana.”
Molly Briles and Justene Kesterson have similar stories, both growing up in Marana, and having role models in the field of law enforcement. Briles’ grandfather worked for the Arizona Department of Public Safety, and his stories of interacting with the community and helping people are what inspired her to work for Marana. “I was surprised to find there are lots of little things that go into being a police officer that you wouldn’t normally think about—being mediators, giving rides to the homeless, and little things that help the community through preventative measures,” Briles said.
Kesterson also grew up in the community, and with her mother working in law enforcement, she understood from an early age what it takes and the kind of work you do in this field. More than anything, Kesterson wanted to serve her community and give back to the place she grew up in.
If you’re interested in becoming a police officer for the Town of Marana, there are a few options to explore. The first is our ridealong program, exactly like Officer Samorano participated in when he was interested in working with the Marana Police Department. You can also enroll in the Pima Community College Police Academy. For information on joining the Marana PD, or to set up a ridealong, please contact Sergeant Adam Lawson at alawson@maranaaz.gov.
The Marana police department is always looking for community-minded, service-oriented people to serve the town. We have created a culture and level of service to be proud of, and we’re looking for people to continue our mission of providing unparalleled police service.
