Lieutenant Brad Sitton of the Tigard Police Department recently completed one of the toughest challenges available to local law enforcement officers: the FBI National Academy. Lt. Sitton and two other Oregon law enforcement officers graduated a ten-week training session at the National Academy in Quantico, Virginia, in September.

This honor is a highly sought after opportunity for the future leaders in local law enforcement communities. The process is very competitive and 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 to attend the National Academy have a great opportunity to share their experiences with peers and learn best practices from across the country and the world,” said Renn Cannon, Special Agent in Charge of the FBI's Portland Field Office. “Only a few law enforcement officers from Oregon attend each year, and we are proud to sponsor Lt. Sitton and our other local partners in the National Academy.”

Lt. Sitton has been in law enforcement since 2003 and full time since 2006, all with the Tigard Police Department. He has served as a field training officer, a firearms instructor, a training officer, a motor officer, a sergeant, and a patrol lieutenant. He currently serves as an investigations lieutenant.

“One of the Tigard Police Department’s strategic priorities is to strengthen our leadership system,” said Chief Kathy McAlpine of the Tigard Police Department. “Investing in the future through succession planning is one area of focus. The FBI National Academy has a long-standing reputation as one of the leading professional development institutes for executive level training. Lieutenant Sitton represented the Tigard Police Department in a professional manner, and we are excited to have him back.”

During the ten weeks of training, local executive-level law enforcement officers spend most of their time in the classroom. Lt. Sitton’s National Academy classes included Forensics, Cyber Crimes, Counterterrorism, Essentials for Law Enforcement Executives, and physical fitness and wellness training. The program allows participants the opportunity to earn college credits through the University of Virginia for some of those studies.

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.