Robert Zavala

Position: School Safety Program Specialist

Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program

Reserve Deputy Sheriff Cochise County Sheriff's Office

Bobby Zavala is a Bisbee, Arizona native with over 14 years of law enforcement experience and 22 years of active-duty military service in the United States Army. While enlisted, he served as a Military Police Officer, Military Police Investigator, and a Protective Service Agent. Deputy Zavala retired from his beloved Army as a First Sergeant.

Bobby recently retired from the Cochise County Sheriff’s Office. In his role, he served as the School Resource Officer in Naco and as a Law and Public Safety Instructor in Bisbee. Prior to performing duties as an SRO and LPS Instructor, he was a fulltime Sheriff Deputy and Tactical Flight Officer. During his tenure with Cochise County, he served as a Patrol Deputy, Physical Fitness Instructor, RADAR Instructor, A.L.I.C.E. Active Shooter Instructor, Field Training Officer (FTO), Team Leader for the Accident Investigations Team, Mentor Coordinator, Cochise County Domestic Violence and Fatality Review Board Liaison, Honor Guard member, Tactical Flight Officer (TFO) and Training Officer for the Aviation Unit “Geronimo.” Before he was a Deputy, Bobby spent two years as a Bisbee Police Officer.

Bobby has served on the Executive Board of the Tempe Family YMCA and is the past Chair of the Military Affairs Committee for the City of Tempe. He was recognized as the “Volunteer of the Year” for the city Tempe in 2021. He served as the Deputy Director and State Director for the League of United Latin American Citizens (LULAC) of Arizona. Bobby is a former member of the Tempe Ambassador Committee and a current member of the prestigious Tempe Diplomats. He is a member of the Opportunities for Youth (OFY), which provides education and awareness for at-risk youth between 16-24 years of age in addition to being a member of Project C.U.R.E which provides much needed medical supplies around the world. Bobby is also a Charter Member of the Arizona Department of Public Safety (AZDPS) Hispanic Advisory Panel.

Reserve Deputy Zavala is currently a sworn officer in good standing with the state of Arizona. In 2023, Bobby was recognized as the School Resource Officer (SRO) of the Year in Arizona. He is currently a member of the Arizona Department of Education School Safety Program Training Team and an Officer Cadre member of the Arizona Foundation for Legal Services and Education (AZFLSE).