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  • Region VIII Academy
  • Academy Home - About the Academy - Training - Staff
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  • Staff
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  • Lt. Joe Monarez
  • Training Director
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  • Lt. Joe Monarez began his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in 1997. He is currently assigned as the Region VIII Training Academy Director. He is responsible for providing direction, planning, and oversight of all training locally and in the region. Lt. Monarez is a certified TCOLE Instructor and holds a Master Jailer License. He has extensive experience and knowledge in corrections. As the Operations and Administrative Lieutenant, he was responsible for the day-to-day operations, budgets, supplies and inspections by regulatory agencies. Lt. Monarez is a graduate of the National Jail Leadership Command Academy Class #32.
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  • Gracie De Santiago
  • Assistant Training Director
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  • Gracie De Santiago relocated to El Paso, Texas in 2014. She joined the County’s Human Resources Department in 2018 and was assigned to the Sheriff’s Office where she provided professional HR support. Ms. De Santiago was afforded the opprtunity to join the Sheriff’s Office in 2021 as the Region VIII Assistant Training Director. She is responsible for all TCOLE credentialiting files, staff completion of TCOLE mandated training, e-training, supervision of the Academy Administrative staff, and assists the Training Director with day-to-day operations.
    Ms. De Santiago holds an Associate of Arts in Administration of Justice/Criminal Justice from Hartnell College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership from Brandman University.
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  • Deputy Mario A. Avila
  • Instructor
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  • Mario A. Avila started his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in May of 2010 as a Detention Officer assigned to the Jail Annex. He was assigned to Inmate Processing Unit during the implementation of booking process at the Jail Annex and served as a Special Response Team member. Deputy Avila earned his appointment as a Deputy Sheriff in May of 2012 and was assigned to Clint and Montana Station where he successfully trained newly appointed deputies as a Field Training Officer. Prior to being selected as an Academy Instructor, Deputy Avila served as a Community Service Deputy where he coordinated community events and operational plans throughout the El Paso County to include March of Dimes, El Paso Crime Stoppers, and the El Paso County Sheriff’s Explorer Program. He conducted several presentations for the community including Anti- bullying, Neighborhood Watch Groups, National Night Out, Car Seat Safety Installations and Inspections, and various safety topics to include Distracted Driving and Driving While Intoxicated. Deputy Avila is a certified TCOLE instructor and serves as one of the Basic Peace Officer Academy instructors. He also serves as a member of the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office Honor Guard, Rifle Team, and Special Weapons and Tactics Team and co- instructs SWAT Week/Active Shooter Training for Basic Peace Officer Academies. Deputy Avila worked joint operations with many local, state, and federal agencies and continues to build partnerships with surrounding agencies.
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  • Officer Margarita Fuentes
  • Instructor
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  • Officer Margarita Fuentes started her career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in November of 2012 as a Detention Officer at the Downtown Detention Facility. In October of 2016, Officer Fuentes transferred to the Jail Administration and Support section in the Jail Annex. During her time in this section, she was trained on the duties of a Special Needs Officer and served as the Pets Advancing Wellness and Success (PAWS) officer. As a PAWS officer, she dedicated many hours of vocational training to inmates on how to properly rehabilitate and train rescue dogs from the Animal Rescue League of El Paso.
    During this assignment, Officer Fuentes visited numerous public/alternative schools to provide presentations that inform students on our duties within the community and the consequences of making damaging decisions. Officer Fuentes holds an Advanced Jailer Proficiency Certification and she is currently assigned to the Region VIII Training Academy as a TCOLE certified instructor and serves as one of the Basic Detention Officer Academy instructors. Officer Fuentes is a subject matter expert on Mental Health Training, she is a Mental Health First Aid Instructor, and an American Heart Association AED/CPR Instructor. Officer Fuentes is an Army veteran. She served for a term of 8 years and supported various stateside missions. Officer Fuentes is furthering her education by attending Grand Canyon University.
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  • Officer Luis Trevino
  • Instructor
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  • Officer Luis “Tree” Trevino started his Career in August of 1997 with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office. He is currently assigned to the Region VIII Training Academy. His duties include coordinating in-service training, administering State licensing and certification exams. He serves as one of the Basic Detention Officer Academy instructors. Officer Trevino holds a Texas Jailer and Instructor certificate from TCOLE. He was a member and team leader of the Special Response Team (SRT) for 15 years and is lead trainer for the SRT. Officer Trevino is a Pressure Point Control Tactics (PPCT) instructor, Ground Avoidance Ground Escape (GAGE) instructor, BLAUER Tactical systems S.P.E.A.R. instructor, Electronic Weapon-TASER instructor, Monadnock PR24 Side Handle Baton instructor, Pepperball systems/Armor instructor, O.C. Projectiles instructor, American Heart Association AED/CPR instructor, CATI-Tactical Vehicle Extraction and Chemical Agents in Law Enforcement-Specialty Impact Munitions, Chemical Munitions, Distraction Devices instructor, and Mobile Field/Riot instructor. Officer Trevino is a member/instructor for the Texas Tactical Police Officers Association (T.T.P.O.A.) and taught at the SWAT conferences. Officer Trevino is the coordinator and the lead trainer of the Special Response Team Tactical School where he has trained agencies throughout the United States and other Countries. He is also an instructor for the Advanced Center for Immobilization techniques C.A.T.I. and Team Six Brazil based out of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Officer Trevino has taught on the International level throughout South America and Mexico. He was lead instructor at the first Annual Prison Tactical School in Santa Catarina, Brazil and was charged with training officers from Brazil in Riot/Disturbance techniques preparing them for the 2014 World Cup and 2016 Summer Olympics games. In his off-time he teaches at the El Paso Community College Law Enforcement Training Academy and volunteers, helping at-risk youth by teaching them boxing skills at his gym. He is the coordinator of the Law Enforcement Boxing event called “Clash of the Titans” which all proceeds go to The El Paso County Sheriffs Foundation.
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  • Justin Martinez
  • Instructor, Range Master
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  • Justin Martinez started his career with the El Paso County Sheriff’s Office in 2016 as a Detention Officer assigned to the Jail Annex where he worked intake, booking and releasing. Officer Martinez is a recognized competitive shooter. He started competing in the International Defensive Pistol Association in 2015, where he is now ranked as a “Master” in multiple divisions. Officer Martinez fell in love with action pistol shooting and has been shooting it ever since. He then made a transition into the United States Practical Shooting Association were he has also progressed into the “Master” classification making him 1 of the 3 shooters in the region with this prestigious title. He then became a Range Officer for the USPSA National Range Officers Institute. He has shot many major competitions such as the Arizona Classic, and Double Tap Championship. Officer Martinez has been a powerhouse in the USPSA production division and has secured a number of wins such as the New Mexico Sectional Championship and the 2018 Sig Sauer Nationals. His accolades include 2018/2019 USPSA National Championship Qualification, 10 Time El Paso Rod and Gun Club USPSA Production Winner, 4 Time El Paso IDPA Winner, 7 Time Mesilla Valley Gun Club USPSA Winner, 5 Time Picacho Gun Club IDPA and Steel Challenge Winner, 3 Time Otero Practical Shooting Association Production Winner, 2018 Butterfield Range War 3rd Place Limited Master, 2017 Las Cruces Pichao All Steel Match Champion, and ammunition Sponsorship from “The Blue Bullets”. Officer Martinez is currently assigned to the Region VIII Training Academy as a Range Master where he shares his passion and expertise with the agencies across the region.
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  • Beck Kee Garcia
  • Administrative Assistant
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  • Beck Kee Garcia began her career with the Sheriff’s Office in February 2020 as an Office Specialist-Intermediate at the Region VIII Training Academy. Ms. Garcia was promoted to Administrative Assistant in January of 2022. She is responsible for recording and reporting TCOLE training, maintaining training files, purchasing, budget, and also serves as the Secretary for the Training Advisory Board. Ms. Garcia holds an Associate’s of Arts in Psychology from El Paso Community College.
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