A familiar face is back on the force at the Lockport Police Department, after taking some time away to attend a prestigious national program.
Lt. Brian Wentland graduated June 12 from the FBI’s National Academy Program in Quantico, Va.
“It’s extremely prestigious,” Chief Larry Eggert said. “It’s an honor that’s earned. He’s done a lot throughout his career. ... Brian has always been a good officer, a good ambassador (for the department).”
Eggert nominated Wentland for the program, and the nomination then went to the FBI for approval, Wentland said.
Before being accepted, he had to pass a physical and a background check.
The approval came in October 2008, and he left for the academy in Quantico, Va., in the beginning of April.
Eggert said only 1 percent of all law enforcement officials in the country get the chance to attend the program.
The officers in the program stay on campus at the FBI Academy, living in dorm rooms. Wentland was one of 250 officers from across the U.S., along with 26 officers from foreign countries such as Afghanistan, Saudi Arabia, Lebanon, China and Australia.
“It was interesting to see their views on things, and how they conduct business, as opposed to how we conduct business,” Wentland said. “You kind of take for granted how good you do have it here in the U.S.”
The program also gave him a chance to network with officers from across the country.
“You may have an issue you’re dealing with at your agency, that you’re dealing with right now, and that may be something they’ve had and had a system in place for 10, 15 years,” he said.
While there, he received instruction in leadership management, conflict resolution and other areas he hopes will help him become a better supervisor.
The hardest part of the program, he said, was leaving behind his wife, Megan, and their daughter, who was 10 months old when he left.
“The big sacrifice you make going down there is leaving home, leaving family,” he said. “The sacrifices my wife had to make, with my daughter ... that’s a lot of work, for doing all of it by herself.”
Despite the hardship, he said he was glad to have had the opportunity.
“It’s certainly an honor and privilege to have gone there, to be a part of the national academy and everything it’s about ... the instructors they have, the people you meet, the experiences you have,” he said.
Contact reporter April Amadon at 439-9222, ext. 6251.
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