After applying to the FBI National academy at the end of 2017 and then having setbacks from COVID-19, Police Chief Jonathan McClain is finally headed to Quantico, Virginia, in April.
McClain took over as Bellevue Police Chief in January, but has been with the department since 2010 and has been in law enforcement for 17 years. He also served in the United States Navy from 2000 to 2005.
No one from Bellevue has ever been selected to attend the academy, and only three officers are chosen from Kentucky for each session. Previous Bellevue Police Chief Wayne Turner participated in the academy when he was a part of the Fort Thomas Police Department.
The other two Kentucky officers attending the academy are from Independence and Danville.
Once you apply, you must be nominated and sponsored by a board of members or National Academy Associates, or the NAA, who have gone through the program. Turner was an active member of the NAA, and he got McClain nominated.
“It’s a big honor,” McClain said. “It’s hard to get into, and you’re not guaranteed to get in. The whole process can take two to four years. It probably would have taken me two years without COVID. But it’s a huge honor. Only 16 people a year from Kentucky get to go, and an average officer does a 20-year career so if you do the math there’s not a ton of time.”
The FBI National Academy takes place four times a year and hosts 250 officers in upper management positions from all around the United States and internationally.
The academy takes place on a marine base and mirrors life on a college campus. McClain will stay in a dorm with another officer he doesn’t know. He will also select five classes he wishes to take over the course of his stay and will receive 17 credit hours from the University of Virginia that can go toward a master’s degree.
Classes offered include intelligence theory, terrorism, terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication, and forensic science.
“These are higher-up classes more pinpointed on certain issues,” McClain said. “Nothing to what I’m used to.”
McClain earned his bachelor’s degree in criminal justice in 2019 from Thomas More University. He said he is interested in the opportunity to go back to school and receive his master’s.
At the end of the program, an optional fitness course takes place that is infamous among law enforcement. The course called The Yellow Brick Road is a grueling six-mile course filled with rope walls, mud pits, running and other strength tests. McClain said he would be participating in the challenge.
“I enjoy that physical challenge,” McClain said. “It’s going to be challenging, but it’s one of those things you feel good about saying, ‘Hey, I did this.’”
Upon completing the course, McClain said, you receive a yellow brick with your name on it.
McClain said networking is a huge benefit to attending the academy.
“You’re going to classes and learning what the FBI learns,” McClain said. “Networking is a big thing; I’ll have a roommate I won’t know. You might have a guy who’s in the gang unit from LA. We would never have access to that. We’re not exposed to violent crime units. We don’t have officers who have dealt with that before. You can then call them up and ask for advice and feedback.”
McClain will know at least one person in the program. He went to high school with Independence Captain Brian Ferayorni, who was also invited to the program. McClain said they are excited to go through the program together.
McClain will be at the program for 10 weeks, from April 4 Through June 9.
“Two sergeants will be taking over the responsibility here,” McClain said. “Sergeant Bass and Sergeant Taylor will have a five-week split. It will be good to give them upper management experience.”
April is approaching and McClain will be leaving soon.
“It’s a bigger honor knowing no one from Bellevue has ever gone and being able to share the knowledge to help better the department and the community,” McClain said. “I’ll know more when I get back, but everyone tells me how valuable it is.”
