Lt. Eric Pressley of the Greer Police Department graduated from the 265th session of the FBI National Academy at Quantico, Va.
“Each student is allowed to choose the courses that best fit their individual needs. I took classes ranging from employment law and legal issues for police operations to leading at-risk employees,” Pressley said.
The National Academy was created in response to a study that illustrated the need for standardization and professionalization in law enforcement departments throughout the United States. The academy, a 10-week program held four times annually, offers a comprehensive course of study that includes such subjects as law, behavioral science, forensic science, the terrorist mindset, communication, health and fitness, and leadership development.
“The instructors were terrific and knew the material inside and out. Obviously, I feel what I learned in the courses themselves will be very helpful in dealing with legal and liability issues to leading individual officers. It goes without saying that liability attaches to everything we do in law enforcement. I know that I am better prepared having completed this process. The Academy was another step in expanding my horizons and thinking on a higher level.”
Class sessions were held daily from 7:30 a.m. until 4:45 p.m. Participants also participated in physical training throughout the week.
“Lt. Pressley has been a valuable asset for this police department. His level of professionalism exceeds the norm,” Greer Police Chief Dan Reynolds said. “The National Academy is an excellent program that both trains the officers in current policing strategies and allows them to network with command staff from other states and around the world. I feel that Lt. Pressley has acquired skills throughout this program that will further advance our community policing efforts.”
Pressley is the fourth member of the GPD to have completed the program, joining Chief Reynolds, Capt. Matt Hamby and Lt. Cris Varner.
“There were officers in my session from 49 states and 24 countries,” Pressley said. “I had opportunities to learn from other law enforcement leaders about how they conduct certain operations or handle situations that we see here in Greer. In the end, I was reminded that we really do have a very good police department.”
Pressley completed the optional grueling 6.1-mile run, “The Yellow Brick Road” through lowlands, woods, muddy waters and simulated windows, up hills, over walls, under barbed wire and across a cargo net.
Pressley becomes a member of the FBI National Academy Associates. The organization includes more than 15,000 law enforcement professionals.