YCSO Detention Officers Graduate from the 287(g) Program

Highlights :

Written by Dwight DEvelyn, YCSO Media Relations Coordinator

Wednesday, 16 April 2008 02:45

From left to right. Marissa Padilla, Keith Chase, Sheriff Waugh, Brian Schultz, Alfredo Forbes and Brian Callaghan. Not present: Todd Swain.

On April, 4 2008, six Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office Detention Officers, who had successfully completed the 4 week U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement 287(g) Training Academy, participated in a graduation ceremony at the Radisson Hotel in Phoenix City Center. Section 287(g) is part of the Immigration and Nationality Act which permits local law enforcement officers, who complete the specialized training, to enforce immigration law and identify foreign born criminals.

The newly trained detention classification officers will also have access to ICE computer databases as part of their duties and will be qualified to determine the legal status of any arrestee processed at either the Camp Verde or Prescott jails. The advantage of the program is two fold in that all agencies booking suspects in the county jail will be provided this service, and the ability of officers to quickly determine an arrestee’s legal status will aid the Yavapai County Attorney in it’s determination to prosecute cases or seek deportation, whichever benefits the best interest of justice.

The Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office is one of only 48 law enforcement agencies in the United States to have officers authorized to enforce immigration law as part of the 287(g) program. Arizona’s law enforcement agencies comprise one third of the total law enforcement officers throughout the United States who participate in the program.

The YCSO graduates received certificates of completion from Sheriff Waugh and Jim Pendergraph, Executive Director of ICE’s Office of State and Local Coordination. The officers are expected to begin using their authority this week at both YCSO detention facilities. Sheriff Waugh plans to send 4 deputies from the patrol division as soon as additional program openings become available.

Part of the more than 30 personnel graduating from the program included officers from the Department of Public Safety, and deputies from both the Pima and Pinal Sheriff’s Office.

Citizens can contact the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office with information or questions at

(928) 771-3260 or the YCSO website: www.ycsoaz.gov

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