On December 16th Assistant Chief Glenn Hutchings graduated from the 247th session of the FBI National Academy. The National Academy is a course of instruction covering 10 weeks. All of the courses are college level instruction accredited by the University of Virginia. This is the most prestigious training that a law enforcement office can obtain. Selection to the National Academy is rigorous and there were only five officers from the state of Washington to have been selected for the current session.
Glenn is the first officer in the history of the Swinomish Police Department to attend the National Academy. He states that being at the National Academy is one of the greatest opportunities of my 36 year law enforcement career. "It has been a great honor to represent the S.I.T.C. at the FBI National Academy." He also wants to thank Chief Schlicker, who made the recommendation to the FBI, for this once in a lifetime honor.
During the 10 week course Assistant Chief Hutchings took classes in leadership, effective writing, managing violent crime, forensic science for police managers, contemporary issues in media relations and fitness. Each National Academy student is required to successfully complete all courses and there is a voluntary fitness challenge in which students complete weekly "challenge runs" with a final run covering a 6.2 mile obstacle course on the Quantico Marine base, the site of the FBI National Academy. Glenn is proud to have completed each challenge run and received a ceremonial yellow brick which is the "prize" for completing the final obstacle course.
The National Academy covered all registration, travel expenses and lodging for each attendee. Session 247 included 264 graduates from 49 states and 24 foreign countries.