Lieutenant Mike Budreau, Medford Police Department, recently completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. In mid-March, Lieutenant Budreau 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. Budreau and our other Oregon partners in the National Academy this year.”

Lieutenant Budreau was born and raised in Medford, Oregon and earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Southern Oregon University. In 1994, he was hired by the Medford Police Department where he has been Field Training Officer, a SWAT team member, Detective, Sergeant and Detective Sergeant. In 2012 he was promoted to Lieutenant. From 2012-2016, Lieutenant Budreau was the Public Information Officer and started the agency’s Facebook and Twitter presence and has successfully grown those account to a strong following. Lieutenant Budreau currently oversees the Detective division as well as their Inter-Agency Narcotics Team.

“The Medford Police Department is proud of Lieutenant Budreau on his graduation from the FBI National Academy,” said Chief Randy Sparacino. “We truly appreciate the opportunity that the FBI gives us to be able to enrich our leaders with this excellent training opportunity. We look forward to Lieutenant Budreau’s return to our department, where he can put his experience to practice.” During the 10 weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lieutenant Budreau’s classes included: Emotional Intelligence: Context and Communication, Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement, Managing the Law Enforcement Image, Fitness in Law Enforcement, Drugs, Society and Contemporary Drug Enforcement Strategies. 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.