Hello Members and HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

 

Please let me begin by expressing how excited and honored I am to serve as the FBINAA Arizona Chapter President for 2025.  I’d like to thank Past President Bryan Cox for his dedicated service to our chapter in 2024, and my goal is to continue the great work and leadership he displayed during his presidency. Bryan will continue to serve our chapter as the Immediate Past President, which ensures he will be around to make sure I don’t make any mistakes.

THANK YOU, BRYAN!!!

The Board would like to congratulate and welcome the graduates of FBINAA Session 292 who graduated on December 12, 2024.  Congratulations Lt. Collin Seay from Flagstaff PD, Cmdr. Daniel Macias from ASU PD, Lt. Jason Toth from Mesa PD, and Lt. Carmen Trevizio from Oro Valley PD.  We look forward to seeing you at future association events!

 

Speaking of NA Sessions, the following sessions and attendees are scheduled for 2025:

 

293 – 1/5/25 – 3/13/25

Captain Brandon Powell – AzDPS

 

294 – 3/30/25 – 6/5/25

Lt. Robert Price – Casa Grande PD

Chief Michael Bailey – Parker PD

Lt. Michael Trowbridge – MCSO

Cmdr. Brent Kimbrel – Yavapai County

 

295 – 7/6/25 – 9/11/25

Lt. David Selvidge – Chandler PD

Lt. Jennifer Borquez – AZ DPS

Lt. Raymond Savoie – Gilbert PD

Lt. Daniel Saldana – Apache Junction

 

296 – 9/28/25-12/4/2025

Lt. Jeff Thomas – Oro Valley PD

Cmdr. Rashidi Johnson – Tempe PD

Lt. Samuel Paviak – Yuma County Sheriff’s Office

Open – Phoenix PD

 

Good luck to each of you and we look forward to welcoming you as new members of the Arizona Chapter upon your graduation.

 

Congratulations also go out to the following National Academy Graduates:

 

Promotions:

• Scottsdale Assistant Police Chief Joe LeDuc, Session 273, to Scottsdale Interim Police Chief.
• Glendale Assistant Police Chief Colby Brandt, Session 270, to Glendale Interim Police Chief.
• AZ DPS Major Jesse Valdez, Session 277, to AZ DPS Lieutenant Colonel.
• AZ DPS Lieutenant Colonel Deston Coleman, Session 269, to AZ DPS Deputy Director.

 

Retirements:

 

• Oro Valley Police Lieutenant John Teachout, Session 263 – January 2025.
• Chandler Police Commander Travis Feyen, Session 282 – March 2025.

______________________________________________________________________________

 

The Board held its first meeting of the year on January 16, 2025, which included a meeting with FBI Phoenix Division SAC Jose Perez.  SAC Perez is very supportive of the National Academy and our chapter, and his selection process will consider an agency’s current or future working relationship with the FBI and the graduate’s and agency’s current or future participation in the state chapter.  SAC Perez confirmed that, as long as he is here, he will include the Board in this selection process.  If your agency is interested in sending law enforcement leaders to the National Academy, Special Agent Amy Fryberger outlined the application process for us, which can be found at the bottom of this letter.

During the meeting, the Board identified the planned events for the year and the exact dates are still being determined.  Our first event is the Membership Appreciation BBQ on March 14, 2025, time to be determined.  This year’s BBQ will be hosted by the Glendale Police Department at Saguaro Ranch Park, at 59^th Avenue and Mountain View Rd.  The Board is also working with our members from Show Low PD to get the Spring 3-day Trainer on the calendar.  We are currently looking at one of the last two weeks in April but will let you know as soon as we get it confirmed so you can save the dates.

Additional upcoming events include the FBINAA National Conference in Baltimore, Maryland set for August 2-5, 2025, the One-Day Fall Trainer, the 10^th Annual Charity Golf Tournament, the ASU vs. U of A game, and the Annual Christmas Party in Prescott.  There will be more information to come as these events get closer.

Reminder, the Arizona Chapter will be hosting the 2027 FBINAA National Training Conference, July 12-15, at the JW Marriott Desert Ridge.  The Executive Board will be recruiting for positions on the Conference Planning Committee, so this is an excellent opportunity to roll up your sleeves and give back to the Chapter.  If you are interested in serving in any capacity on the 2027 Conference Planning Committee, or taking on an Ad Hoc Committee assignment, please let me know.

I am excited to see you all at our trainings and events this year as we strengthen our friendships and our network and continue to enhance our organization. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at any time.

Sincerely,

 

Jeff Grow

Assistant Chief of Police

Tolleson Police Department

Jeffrey.grow@tolleson.az.gov

FBINA Session #244

 

The NA is a comprehensive 10-week residential program of accredited instruction for law enforcement leaders from all over the world. The FBI National Academy has long been a vital element in the continuing improvement of law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation throughout the world.

Mission:  The mission of the FBI National Academy is to support, promote, and enhance the personal and professional development of law enforcement leaders.

Objectives:

• Develop purpose-driven law enforcement leaders who address emerging trends through innovative and data driven policing in cooperation with their communities.
• Prepare law enforcement partners for positions of greater responsibilities within their organizations.

Three Core Components:

• Academics – The FBINA is a professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers nominated by their agency heads because of demonstrated leadership qualities. The 10-week program serves to improve the administration of justice in police departments and agencies at home and abroad and to raise law enforcement standards, knowledge, and cooperation worldwide. Through an affiliation with the University of Virginia, National Academy students earn college credit for the academic portion of the curriculum. Each student who completes 18 semester hours of academic work with an average of “C” or better is awarded a certificate in criminal justice education by the university. A wide range of vocational subjects further complements a program designed to serve the needs of the National Academy’s diverse student body. Each of these 6 courses is 3 credits, including the physical fitness course. Students are required to take a total of 6 courses that include: – Mandatory physical fitness course – Mandatory leadership course – 4 elective courses of their choosing Upon successful completion of the NA, students receive 18 continuing education credits from the University of Virginia to put toward a master’s or bachelor’s degree.
• Physical Fitness &Wellness – The physical fitness course is composed of 3 to 4 fitness classes a week and a weekly fitness challenge with the whole class body. Students must arrive with a minimum fitness level as a baseline. This is measured by a required timed mile-run test conducted on the first week. Males must run the timed mile under 10 minutes and females must run it under 11 minutes and 30 seconds. This test is meant to minimize injuries and to confirm the students’ ability to endure the fitness classes that get harder each week. The weekly progression of these classes culminates in a 6-mile obstacle course run called the Yellow Brick Road (YBR), typically occurring in the last week. To qualify for this run, another mile-run test occurs at the end of the session. Passing this last run in the required time is compulsory to run the YBR and obtain the yellow brick.
• Networking & Knowledge Sharing – In addition to courses of study, students also engage in a variety of networking activities as well as social and educational events that complement the curriculum. They will have the opportunity to exchange ideas and learn from other students. These events are sponsored and led by three different groups: the National Academy Unit, the FBI National Academy Associates, and the students.  The National Academy Unit sponsors many of the enrichment events students attend such as guest speakers, International Night, Flag Night, and more. The FBI National Academy Associates is an organization independent of the FBI. They sponsor many of the dinners and networking events students attend such as Pasta Night, Steak Night, New Member Expo, and Professional Development Day. The students have a long-standing tradition of hosting some amazing events every session to include a Law Enforcement Memorial Ceremony, Silent Auction, Texas Night, and Louisiana Night.

 

Interested individuals must meet the minimum requirements below to be considered.

1. Be of good moral character and reputation and have a record of outstanding service in the law enforcement profession.
2. Be nominated by the head of their agency.
3. Be at least 25 years of age.
4. Be a regularly appointed, full-time law enforcement officer (LEO) of a duly constituted law enforcement agency of a municipality, county, territory, tribal, or state government and have at least 5 years of full-time law enforcement experience without significant interruption.
5. Hold the rank of lieutenant or higher.
6. Be medically cleared for strenuous physical exertion and regular participation in physical training. Candidates must demonstrate the ability to complete a 1-mile run within the established time limits for males (less than 10 minutes) and females (less than 11:30 minutes).
7. Must possess a college degree or at least 60 college credit hours.
8. May not be enrolled in any additional full-time academic program while attending the NA.
9. Continue to receive salaries while attending the NA.
10. Affirm, as a condition of attending the NA, that the exclusive rights and remedies for any injury suffered while attending the FBI National Academy must be solely liable under their department’s worker’s compensation insurance program.
11. Affirm that they will remain in law enforcement for a minimum of 3 years following graduation from the NA.
12. Be able to speak, read, write, and comprehend the English language in an academic environment at the collegiate level.

Individuals interested in attending the National Academy in calendar year 2026, should send an email to Special Agent Amy Fryberger, alfryberger@fbi.gov, with an attached nomination letter for the individual.  The letter should contain the nominee’s background in law enforcement and his/her educational achievements.  It should also contain the nominee’s position and that he/she plans to be involved in law enforcement for at least three years.  Additionally, it should demonstrate the nominee’s qualities of leadership and confidence and respect of fellow employees.  The deadline to submit nominations for calendar year 2026 is May 1, 2025.

 

If you have any questions, please contact Special Agent Fryberger, alfryberger@fbi.gov.