Lieutenant Jon Terland, Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office, recently completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. In mid-March, Lieutenant Terland and two other Oregon law enforcement officers completed a 10-week training session at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

There is a highly competitive process local law enforcement officers must go through to be selected for this honor. That process includes a nomination by a supervisor; interviews with the candidate and co-workers to determine leadership skills and abilities; a background check; a determination of physical fitness; and the support of former National Academy graduates within the candidate’s organization.

“The FBI’s National Academy program brings together elite law enforcement officers from U.S. police agencies as well as from those of our overseas partners. It is a unique opportunity that allows them to learn best practices, share their experiences, and build life-long relationships with other leaders,” said Renn Cannon, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon. “We are proud to sponsor Lt. Terland and our other Oregon partners in the National Academy this year.”

Lieutenant Terland started his law enforcement career in 1996 as a Reserve and Corrections Deputy in Idaho. In 1998, he was hired as an officer for the Fairbanks Police Department where he was a SWAT team member and Field Training Officer. In 2003, he was hired by the Sherman County Sheriff’s Office and held the positions of Traffic Safety Deputy, Certified Commercial Motor Vehicles Inspector, and Speed Determination Device Instructor. A few years later he became a Law Enforcement Ranger for the Bureau of Land Management and graduated from the Federal Law Enforcement Training Program. Missing rural Eastern Oregon and local law enforcement, he returned in 2009 and was hired as a Deputy for the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office. He was promoted to Sergeant in 2014 and to Lieutenant in 2017.

Lieutenant Terland earned an Associate’s and Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice, with honors, and obtained a Master’s Degree in Psychology in 2015. He also holds all Police Certifications awarded by the Department of Public Safety Standards and Training.

“Ten weeks of training, all the way across the nation, shows commitment to Jon’s professionalism and serving Gilliam County citizens,” said Sheriff Gary Bettencourt. “The sacrifice of being away from his family, is not one many are willing to make. I am proud of Jon for his commitment and leadership. With the training Lt. Terland received, the Gilliam County Sheriff’s Office will have more resources to draw from that will better serve the county with its law enforcement needs.”

During the 10 weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lieutenant Terland’s classes included: Physical Fitness, Employment Law for Executives, Advanced Psychology of Communication, Wellness, Spirituality, and Resiliency in Law Enforcement, Essentials for Law Enforcement Executives, and Contemporary Issues for Law Enforcement. The program allows participants the opportunity to earn college credits through the University of Virginia for some of those studies. In addition to the classroom work, participants have physical training courses and activities.

Each year, the FBI sponsors four sessions of the National Academy. Each session includes about 220 local law enforcement officers from around the United States and around the world. While in the academy, the officers and deputies live in a dorm-like setting. The FBI does not charge U.S. students for tuition, books, equipment, meals, lodging, or travel to and from their home.