8 NEW DETENTION OFFICERS GRADUATE FROM YCSO ACADEMY

Published on June 28, 2024

YCSO added eight new detention officers following the graduation of Academy class 02-2024. Chief Deputy Jeff Newnum told the class, "You have a God-given ordainment to leave yourself behind and become a servant for good."

The graduates participated in a ceremony attended by a large crowd of family and friends. Chief Deputy Newnum, who presented the certificates and badges to the new detention officers, told the group, "You are now adopted into our YCSO family." Earlier in the ceremony he presented the graduates with an agency challenge coin, which he referred to when he told the new officers, "The coin, the badge and the YCSO patch you wear are all about what you do for others, and for your fellow officers." He also referred to the American flag that is on each YCSO uniform when he said, "Not many agencies still have the flag on their uniforms, but we do because one of your main responsibilities is to be protectors of individual constitutional rights."

YCSO Commander Brent Kimbriel, in his keynote speech at the ceremony, said "We all know how upside-down our world is right now, but Yavapai County is right side up due to the Sheriff's Office and all of our other law enforcement agencies." Kimbriel called the graduates "the guardians", and said, "With power comes great responsibility. Your job will take compassion and humility. Seek wisdom and know that iron sharpens iron. You will grow stronger by what you learn from each other, and teamwork will be essential in all you do." He also commended the many family members of the graduates who came to show love and support. "One reason we have such a great and safe county is because of the emphasis on family," he said. 

Chief Newnum spoke of the election this week of Sheriff David Rhodes to the National Sheriff's Association Board of Directors and pointed out that YCSO is a "model agency" nationwide for the huge reduction in recidivism. In recent years, repeat offenders in Yavapai County have dropped from close to 40% of all those arrested, to only 16%. He commended YCSO Director of Behavioral Health Beya Thayer for helping implement programs that connect many of those arrested with outside agencies for necessary treatment that keeps them from a further life of crime. Those groups help with substance abuse, mental illness, and difficult family backgrounds, among other issues. 

The eight graduates from Detention Academy 02-2024 were Class Leader Jordan Chapman, Desirae Barnes, Damien Coffey, Omar Fajardo, Reese Jones, Steven Roybal, Matthew Tamayo, and Josue Valenzuela. 

If you would like to start a great career with YCSO, go to ycsojobs.com, or call (928)708-9276.