Cloquet Police Department's Chief Wade Lamirande recently attended The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association's Academy for Chief Law Enforcement Officers (CLEO and Command) at Camp Ripley, Minn.
The 32-hour, state-approved course of instruction is designed to familiarize law enforcement executives with their responsibilities as leaders in their profession. The purpose of the academy is to help new and veteran police department face challenges behind the desk and on the street.
"The job of running a police department is more than just commanding a police force," said Harlan Johnson, executive director of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, which sponsored the Academy. "It's about managing relationships in a community."
Since criminals and their tools and technologies are becoming more sophisticated, he said, public safety departments must stay current with professional services. Police chiefs learned at CLEO how their departments strengthen their patrol squads, maintain data practices, and stay ahead of policy requirements.
The academy is an intensive, four-day training session taught by Minnesota-grown and seasoned police chiefs and legal staff. In addition, the academy covers topics such as ethics, administrative planning, human resources and state and federal mandates.
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St. Joseph Police Chief Peter Jansky, the current president of the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association, told the chiefs-in-training at a panel discussion: "You belong to a model group of law enforcement professionals. You are demonstrating your commitment to work for your communities. You are a special group because you have chosen to lead and sustain an awesome responsibility."
The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association consists of more than 500 law enforcement managers for local, county, state and federal agencies. Police chiefs total about 350 of these professionals. The association was formed in 1954 to enhance the delivery of public safety services, critical training, and legislative initiatives with the objective of maintaining professional law enforcement in Minnesota communities.
