Lieutenant Treven Upkes, Salem Police Department, has completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. Lieutenant Upkes 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 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. “Lt. Upkes represents Oregon’s high standards, and we are proud to have sponsored him.”

Treven Upkes is currently a lieutenant in the Patrol Division for the Salem Police Department. He supervises the Community Response Section, which includes the Traffic Team, Problem Oriented Policing Team, Behavioral Health Unit, and Downtown Enforcement Team. He is also the department’s public information officer and assists with the Emergency Operations Group. Lt. Upkes started with the Sacramento Police Department in 2002 and came to Salem in 2004. At the Salem Police Department, he has served as a patrol officer, fraud and arson detective, patrol sergeant, Downtown Enforcement Team sergeant, and shift commander. Lt. Upkes has a Bachelor of Arts degree from Wabash College in Indiana.

“We are honored to have Lieutenant Upkes represent the Salem Police Department at the academy,” said Deputy Chief Skip Miller. “The training he received and the invaluable experience he gained will certainly benefit this agency and the community. We look forward to his return and putting all his knowledge to use.”

During the 10 weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lt. Upkes’ National Academy classes included: Critical Incident Leadership: Crisis Negotiations; Critical Analysis of Present-day Policing; Seminar in Managing the Law Enforcement Image; Fitness in Law Enforcement; and Intelligence Theory and Applications for Law Enforcement Managers.

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.