Maricopa District Office
Public Safety

Public Safety

Public safety involves the prevention of and protection from events that could endanger the safety of the general public from significant danger, injury/harm, or damage, such as crimes or disasters (natural or man-made). The sector includes organizations and institutions responsible for the administration of justice, public order, and safety in both the public and private sectors. This can include the courts, police and fire protection, correctional and parole institutions, as well as investigative and security services.

Greater Phoenix employs over 20,000 people in public safety in both the public and private sectors. The region’s fast population growth will require large numbers additional public safety workers in the years to come. Compared to current levels, between 2006 and 2016 the Arizona Department of Commerce expects the State of Arizona to need:

28% more forensic science technicians,
25% more detectives and criminal investigators,
24% more emergency medical technicians,
14% more fire fighters,
14% more correctional officers,
13% more police and sheriff’s officers, and
11% more supervisors and managers for all of these professions

The Maricopa Community Colleges is a major source of training for public safety professionals to meet the growing needs of the Greater Phoenix region. Nearly 50 degree and certificate programs are offered through the Maricopa system in areas such as the administration of justice, police and fire academy training, emergency medical and paramedic technology, forensic science, justice studies, and fire science. For more information and a list of available programs, please click here.