CDR Sam Farris

Sam Farris is the Operations Commander for the Cochise County sheriff’s Office. His division level supervisory responsibilities include overseeing the Patrol, SWAT and Aviation units. Commander Farris joined the CCSO in January of 2017 after serving as a contract pilot for the Sheriff’s Office.

Prior to being selected as the new Operations Commander, Farris served 28 years with the City of Phoenix Police Department in a variety of roles. Farris worked patrol assignments in the downtown and central Phoenix precincts where he also performed the duties of Field Training Officer, Tactical Response Unit member, School Resource Officer and Bicycle Patrol Officer. Farris was later assigned to the PPD General Investigations Bureau as a Detective, where he specialized in auto theft investigations with temporary assignments in the Robbery, Child Crimes and Silent Witness units. The bulk of Farris’s career with PPD was spent in the Air Support Unit where he served in the roles of Tactical Flight Officer, Airplane Surveillance Pilot, Helicopter Patrol Pilot and Helicopter Rescue Pilot.

Upon retirement, Farris remained with PPD and transferred to the Reserve Division. During that time, Farris was promoted to the rank of Sergeant and was tasked with supervisory responsibilities in the Reserve Division’s Special Operations Bureau. Farris continued to fly commercially while assigned to the reserves and later as a contact pilot for CCSO, which afforded the opportunity to join the Sheriff’s Office in his current capacity.

Credentials held by Commander Farris include: Graduate of the FBI National Academy, Master’s Degree in Criminal Justice, Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology, FAA Commercial Helicopter Certificate, FAA Helicopter Instrument Rating, FAA Private Airplane Certificate, FAA Check Airman, Medal of Life Saving, and Police Officer of the Year 2011 – Luke Greenway Award.