Beckner (Submitted photo)

Scott Beckner, Shepherd University’s chief of police, recently completed a 10-week training program with the FBI’s National Academy, held at Quantico, Va.

Participation in the training is by invitation through a nomination process. Applicants are drawn from across the country as well as 150 international partner countries. A total of 270 law enforcement leaders participated.

The program is held four times a year and offers participants a wide range of leadership and specialized training, as they spend the time together sharing ideas and networking. Participants receive 18 hours of graduate credit from the University of Virginia.

Each participant selected five courses in addition to the required physical and nutritional course including decision making and ethics, promoting the police image, labor law, spirituality in policing and managing a death investigation.

This was the 245th class of the academy. Schools from around the country were represented including the University of Kentucky, University of Wisconsin, New York University and Auburn University.

Applicants are recommended and apply to participate in the academy, and only 1 percent of applicants are accepted. This is the first time a Shepherd police chief has participated in the academy. Beckner was recommended by special agent Terry Grzadzielwski of Martinsburg and sponsored by the FBI office in Pittsburgh.

Beckner said that he has plans to start a wellness program for campus police officers.

Beckner said he plans to start a wellness program based on the knowledge he received at the academy this fall.