Lieutenant Jay Bates, Portland Police Bureau, today completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. Lieutenant Bates and two other Oregon law enforcement officers graduated a 10-week training session at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, today.

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 exceptional leaders selected for the National Academy have the opportunity to learn and share best practices with other elite law enforcement officers from across the county and the world,” said Renn Cannon, special agent in charge of the FBI in Oregon. “Only a few officers from Oregon have the chance to attend each year and we are proud to sponsor Lt. Bates and our other local partners in the National Academy.”

Lt. Jay Bates started with the Tualatin Police Department in 1995. In May 1996, he transferred to the Portland Police Bureau as a patrol officer, and, in November 1999, he became a narcotics K9 handler. After PPB promoted him to sergeant in 2008, Bates served as a leader in both patrol and narcotics. In 2018, Bates earned his promotion to lieutenant and served in the Professional Standards Division as the Early Intervention System Administrator (with a focus on the DOJ Settlement Agreement). He is currently assigned to the Chief’s Office as Adjutant to Chief Outlaw. Lt. Bates obtained his Bachelor of Science in Business Administration at Western Oregon University in 1993. He is currently working toward his Master of Science in Strategic Leadership at the University of Charleston in West Virginia, and he expects to complete that program in September 2020.

“Lt. Bates has demonstrated a continued commitment to his duties at the Portland Police Bureau throughout his career, and therefore, it is no surprise he excelled during the highly demanding FBI National Academy,” said Chief Danielle Outlaw. “I look forward to Lt. Bates returning to the Bureau where he will apply what he learned and continue to make positive impacts within the organization and the community.”

During the 10 weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lt. Bate’s National Academy classes included: Advanced Psychology of Communication; Seminar in Managing the Law Enforcement Image; Managing Organizational Change and Development; Essentials for Law Enforcement Executives; and Contemporary Issues in Law Enforcement Seminar.

Each year, the FBI sponsors four sessions of the National Academy. Each session includes about 220 local law enforcement officers from throughout 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.