|
Rick Peterson becomes 2nd FL cop to attend FBI Academy
|
|
|
|
Wednesday, 08 October 2008
|
Cliff Buchan
News Editor
Forest Lake Police Department Sgt. Rick Peterson has become the second officer in city history to graduate from the national FBI Academy.
In September, Peterson followed in the footsteps of former Police Chief David Schwartz to complete the program hosted at the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, VA.
Peterson was one of three officers from Minnesota selected to take part in the 234th session of the FBI National Academy. In all, 250 police officers from all over the United States and 24 foreign countries were accepted into the program.
Peterson, 40, a 13-year police officer, spent 11 weeks at Quantico from July 6 through September 11.
“It was exciting and very challenging,” Peterson said upon returning to duty in Forest Lake. “It was quite an honor to be selected.”
During the session, Peterson took classes that qualified for graduate credits from the University of Virginia. The classes included legal issues for command level officers, executive leadership, conflict resolution, managing organizational change and development, and a seminar in media relations for law enforcement executives.
In addition to the book work, FBI Academy enrollees were also engaged in physical training. Peterson completed the 6.5 mile Marine obstacle course dubbed the “Yellow Brick Road.”
Chief of Police Clark Quiring initiated the project in 2004 when he asked that the Forest Lake Police Department be put on the list to attend the FBI Academy. The goal, he said, is to develop a staff that is as well trained as possible while living within budgets.
“The FBI Academy is some of the best law enforcement training in the world and focuses on leadership development, emphasizing critical thinking,” Quiring said.
During the program, the FBI Academy pays the cost of the officer’s transportation to Quantico, VA, and provides room and board while the officer is there. Peterson’s salary was covered under his regular contract with the city.
Peterson joined the Forest Lake Police Department in 2000. Prior to his hiring here, he spent five years as a deputy sheriff with the Washington County Sheriff’s Office.
He is a 1986 graduate of Forest Lake High School. He earned a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Minnesota Duluth with a double major in criminology and sociology and a minor in psychology.
Next spring he plans to continue his education by seeking his master’s degree in police leadership, a two-year college program that will be completed during off-duty time.
Peterson and his wife, Colleen, live in Wyoming with their three children.
|
