Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza, in red, runs with Sheriff cadets during the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run in Tustin on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Laza, 30, is part of the academy’s new partnership with Special Olympics and class 294’s first honorary recruit. He has participated in activities with them throughout their 26 weeks of training. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza, third from right, cracks up as he poses with Sheriff cadets on their last day of training in Tustin on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Laza, 30, is part of the academy’s new partnership with Special Olympics and class 294’s first honorary recruit. He has participated in activities with them throughout their 26 weeks of training. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza, in red, works out with Sheriff cadets as an honorary recruit on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. The Orange County Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy has started a partnership with Special Olympics. Laza has participated in activities with them throughout their 26 weeks of training. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza, in red, takes part in the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run with Sheriff cadets as an honorary recruit on Wednesday, July 20, 2022 in Tustin. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
A deputy waves to recruits and their family during the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run in Tustin on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Rudy Jurado, waits with his 1-year-old grandson, Cooper Wayne, for Sheriff cadets to return from the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run in Tustin on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Copper’s dad was running in the event on the last day of the 26-week training to become a deputy. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
Special Olympics athlete Brett Laza, in red, runs with Sheriff cadets during the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run in Tustin on Wednesday, July 20, 2022. Laza, 30, is a Sheriff’s Regional Training Academy honorary recruit as part of their new program with Special Olympics Southern California, He has participated in several activities with them throughout their 26 weeks of training. (Photo by Mindy Schauer, Orange County Register/SCNG)
The Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s latest class of recruits had an extra member as they finished their 26-week academy.
The department’s Regional Training Academy debuted with this session a new partnership with Special Olympics Southern California that invites an honorary recruit to training events with the future deputies. The program’s goal, officials said, is “to build a meaningful relationship with members of the community they will soon serve” and introduce the Special Olympics athletes to the “rigorous training” peace officers go through.
The first honorary recruit, Brett Laza, 30, joined members of Class #249 on Wednesday, July 20, for the Fallen Officers’ Memorial Run, a physical fitness competition that caps off the academy session.
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