News Release

Santa Ana College and the Orange County Sheriff's Department Announce Basic Academy Class Graduation

52 Recruits Graduate Basic Police Academy on February 26, 2020

(Santa Ana, Calif.) – Santa Ana College (SAC), in conjunction with the Orange County Sheriff's Department, has announced the upcoming graduation of its Basic Academy class. On February 26, 2020, 52 recruits will officially complete their Basic Police Academy training.

The training, which began on August 26, 2019, includes a 16-hour Training Academy Preparation course, 120 hours of pre-Academy classes, and 984 hours of Academy classes which occur over the course of the six-month comprehensive program. The graduation ceremony will feature the recognition of outstanding recruits in the areas of:

    • Physical Training
    • Academics
    • Arrest and Control Techniques
    • Practical Application
    • Shooting
    • Outstanding Officer

Distinguished speakers presenting at the graduation include retired Glendale Police Chief Robert Castro and Dr. Jeffery Lamb, SAC's vice president of academic affairs.

The ceremony will be held on Wednesday, February 26, at 3 p.m., at the Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy, which is located at 15991 Armstrong Ave. in Tustin, Calif.

For additional information about the Academy, please contact Director Brad Virgoe, Criminal Justice Academies, at (714) 566-9200.

About Santa Ana College and its Criminal Justice Academies
Santa Ana College (SAC), which turned 100 years old in 2015, serves about 27,000 students each semester at its main campus in Santa Ana. The college prepares students for transfer to four-year institutions and provides invaluable workforce training and customized training for business and industry. In addition, another 11,000 students are served through the college’s School of Continuing Education located at Centennial Education Center. Ranked as one of the nation’s top two-year colleges awarding associate degrees to Latino and Asian students, the college is also recognized throughout the state for its comprehensive workforce training programs for nurses, firefighters, law enforcement and other medical personnel. SAC is one of two comprehensive colleges under the auspices of the Rancho Santiago Community College District.

Over 24,000 individuals participate in Criminal Justice Academies training annually, including sworn police officers, deputy sheriffs, district attorney investigators, campus law enforcement and security officers, individuals with an interest in criminal justice, code enforcement officers, beaches and parks security staff, reserve police and deputy sheriffs, probation officers, and civilian and sworn custody officers. Criminal Justice Academies also offer three to five basic academy training classes, with an average class size of 60 recruits, the majority of whom are already hired and sponsored by an agency providing public safety to the communities of Southern California.

Contact: Brin Wall

Phone: (714) 564-5527

e-mail: