LAKE HAVASU CITY — Post high school graduation is usually when most teenagers begin wondering about which jobs they want to seek. With the variety of industry related apprenticeships, the Public Service Assistant role of Lake Havasu’s police force was developed as a basic internship for individuals wanting to be members of our town’s law enforcement.
Lasting for three years, the program gives several on the job tasks that involve community engagement, officer safety, report writing, basic investigating, and many other hands-on instruction.
Young adults could potentially benefit from investigating this career pathway. Eighteen year old Lake Havasu local Cora Mariani, is currently enrolled in the Public Service Assistant program. Originally from Yucca, Arizona, Mariani is a Lake Havasu High School graduate from the class of 2025.
The student said that it was her grandparents who got her interested in police work. Mariani knew early on in her life that she wanted to be an active participant in the profession. “My grandparents got me interested in police work. They were partners together in Santa Ana, California. Ever since I was a kid, I knew that policing was something that I wanted to do,” Mariani said.
As a trainee, the police force hopeful has already provided assistance with the cadet program, taking delayed reports, overseeing security watches, traffic controls, and parking enforcements. While the duties involve much commitment and focus, Mariani still has activity favorites. She enjoys the opportunity of exploring, locating persons who have committed crimes, and documenting incidents. Mariani maintains that each scenario is diverse, making her experiences as a public service apprentice, a never ending classroom.
“My favorite activity is taking reports. I love having the ability to investigate, find suspects, and write reports. This is because every situation is different, and there is always something new to learn,” the candidate remains curious.
Mariani has both long term and short term goals in place. Her immediate objective is preparations for the police academy and ultimately to someday be a Lake Havasu City police officer. In terms of recommending the program to others, Mariani explains, “I would absolutely recommend others to participate in this program. Especially if their long-time career goal is law enforcement. Personally, I feel like I am getting a jump-start on my career right out of high school. And I’m gaining an insight of the expectations of the police academy, and it is making me feel more and more prepared throughout my time in this position. Also, this job includes a competitive salary with employee benefits.”
If you or someone you know is interested in a future career with the Lake Havasu law enforcement team can visit the Lake Havasu City website at www.lhcaz.gov and apply for career opportunities and cadet programs.
Mariani also shared the benefits of the course’s cadet workshops, specifically for police academy guidance.
“The Police Cadet Program, where I first began my involvement with the department. The Cadet Program, open to individuals ages 14 to 21, provides hands-on experience in police work and tactics through weekly meetings. It serves as excellent preparation for the Police Service Assistant position or for entry into the police academy,” Mariani said.
Created by the feedback of our police department and the city’s human resource’s team, the Public Service Assistant journey serves a dual purpose as a professional avenue and inviting method to encourage police officers of the future.
