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About Smoke signals. (Grand Ronde, Or.) 19??-current | View Entire Issue (Oct. 15, 2017)
S moke S ignals OCTOBER 15, 2017 13 21 McKnight was the Tribe’s first police officer FBI TRAINING continued from front page ters in Quantico, Va. After exhausting every training opportunity in Oregon, McKnight said he was seeking to further improve his skills as police chief when he heard about the National Academy from a Baker City officer who had attended. “I don’t have tons of experience as a police officer, only going on seven years, so I am trying to get as much training as possible,” McK- night said. “I did all the trainings in Oregon, and this was the best opportunity I could find elsewhere that would help me with the edu- cational part of it.” McKnight, 40, was tapped as Grand Ronde’s second police chief in December 2015. He succeeded Al LaChance, who retired in February 2016. McKnight was the Tribe’s first police officer after graduating from the Oregon Department of Public Safety Standards Academy and he jumped right into the thick of things, getting the department up and running. “When the opportunity came to ap- ply to the National Academy, I had to figure everything out on my own,” he said. “Most of the larger departments have someone who has gone before and can help with the process. But I am used to tackling new things so I figured it out, with the help of my lieutenant and sergeant.” According to FBI.gov, leaders and managers of state, local, coun- ty, Tribal, military, federal and international law enforcement agencies may attend the academy, but participation is by invitation only through a nomination process. “There is a highly competitive process that local law enforcement officers must go through before being selected for this honor,” said Beth Ann Steele, FBI Portland’s public information officer. “That process includes a nomination by a supervisor, interviews of the can- didate and co-workers to determine leadership skills and abilities, a background check, a determination of physical fitness and support of former National Academy gradu- ates within the candidate's orga- nization.” Each year, the FBI sponsors four sessions of the National Academy, and provides U.S. students with tuition, books, equipment, meals, lodging and travel to and from their home. The academy began in 1935, cre- ated in response to a 1930 study by the Wickersham Commission that recommended the “standardization and professionalization of law en- forcement departments across the U.S. through centralized training.” Courses at the time included scien- tific aids in crime detection, report preparation, criminal investigation techniques, and administration and organization. After World War II began, courses were added in espi- onage and sabotage. McKnight was nominated by Tribal General Manager David If you go Chat With the Chief When: Noon to 3 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 25 Where: Grand Ronde Police Department, 9655 Grand Ronde Road. Lunch will be provided. More information: 503-879- 1474 Fullerton. “I want to thank Tribal Council and Dave Fullerton for having the trust in me to represent the Tribe in such high executive training,” he said. Fullerton said the FBI training was a win-win. “It’s important to have someone who aspires to better themselves,” Fullerton said. “And Jake has the interest in getting more skills. When the FBI comes calling, you don’t pass that up. It was a great opportunity we didn’t want him to miss out on.” Of the 239 in his class, McKnight said he was the only Tribal officer. Participants hailed from every state, along with international attendees. Classes were offered in law, be- havioral science, forensic science, understanding terrorism/terrorist mindsets, leadership, communi- cation and health/fitness. Courses included leadership and specialized training, where officers shared ideas, techniques and personal experiences. McKnight applied late last year for the 10-week training and was shocked when he received a call from the FBI within a few weeks. “I was told it was a two-year waiting list,” he said. “But I got a call back to attend the class in January 2017. But it was too early for me to take care of everything I needed to do before I went, so I selected the July class. … I was lucky to be chosen so fast because some people waited years for the opportunity to go. “It is basically like going to col- lege and living in a dorm room. We shared a room and bathrooms, and were in classes all day.” Training began at 7:30 a.m. and lasted until 5 p.m. Courses were taught by FBI agents who special- ized in a particular area of study. “It was very helpful to get the per- spective of someone who has done the job and been out in the field,” McKnight said. “They understood what you were going through.” For example, Critical Incident Leadership Negotiations was taught by the agent who negoti- ated with Somali pirates during the 2009 hijacking of the U.S. con- tainer ship Maersk Alabama. The incident was later made into the movie “Captain Phillips” starring Tom Hanks. “You just can’t get that experi- ence anywhere else,” McKnight said. “And that was the type of in- structors we had. My public speak- ing class was taught by someone by the National Academy experi- ence was that of living on the East Coast. “The West Coast is a lot slower paced,” McKnight said. “And on the East Coast, it is just different, an experience. Noth- ing seems to get started until noon on weekends. And traffic can be a nightmare. Peo- ple are a lot more relaxed here. It was nice to see how good we have it.” Courtesy photo by Jim Lockard Alth ou gh th e Grand Ronde Tribal Police Chief Jake McKnight carries networking op- a sandbag while competing in the Muscle Mania event portunities McK- night encountered during his training at the FBI’s National Academy. were invaluable, the other rewarding aspect was the with tons of experience. The drug return of his physical fitness. (enforcement strategies) class was “I worked out all of my life, then taught by a DEA agent. She knew just stopped for a year,” he said. “But everything about every drug you my physical fitness class helped me could think of, and is still sending learn a ton while I was there, and us information. She is probably I got my mind and body back into always going to be a huge resource it. The instructor was the type who for me.” gave 110 percent, and if you weren’t Like many people, McKnight giving the same, you felt bad.” said he was not comfortable with This preparation and experience the public speaking part of this job helped McKnight drop two things: and said that the class was helpful. His weight by 25 pounds and his McKnight’s other classes were mile time by several minutes, post- Legal Issues for Command Level ing a 6:04 by the time the academy Officers, Essentials for Law En- was over. forcement Leaders, and Fitness He also participated in the famous and Law Enforcement. Courses are “Yellow Brick Road” run, the final accredited through the University test of the fitness challenge. It is a of Virginia. race that includes a grueling 6.1- “It wasn’t so much about doing mile run through a hilly, wooded papers and schoolwork, but most of trail built by the Marines. Along the it was group activities,” McKnight way, participants must scale walls, said. “There were lots of discussions run through creeks, jump through with other students, who all had a simulated windows, rope climb rock ton of experience in law enforce- faces, crawl under barbed wire in ment. That is what I am lacking, muddy water, maneuver across so I wanted to sponge it all up as a cargo net and more. When the much as possible. The beauty of this course is completed, students re- whole program is the networking.” ceive a yellow brick to memorialize Since he returned a few weeks their achievement, which McKnight ago, McKnight said he has already has displayed in his office. utilized new connections for two “I think the fitness part to this local law enforcement issues he has is huge,” he said. “Hopefully, I can come across. bring some of that back to my guys “You will never get this group of and get them working out and in experienced people in one room ex- the gym.” cept at National Academy,” he said. McKnight also said that it was a “It was also nice to hear from the credit to the Grand Ronde Tribal different countries to see how they Police Department’s nine other em- solved problems. Like in the UK ployees how smoothly everything (United Kingdom), where no one went while he was gone for three carries guns, but it works for them.” months. McKnight, who grew up in the “They really picked up the slack area, said that local police are for- and it feels good, like I have been tunate to have the support of Grand doing this job right and everyone Ronde community members. understands how to do things,” he “We need to continue to make said. sure that we are community polic- “They really held down the de- ing,” he said. “A lot of departments partment and kept things running don’t get that one-on-one time. It is smoothly,” Fullerton said. nice to reflect on that and see.” Most of all, McKnight wants to In keeping with the theme of thank his wife, Tamara, and his community policing, McKnight will four children. host a “Chat With the Chief,” event “I really want to express my grati- on Friday, Oct. 25, at the new police tude to her for taking care of things department building. Lunch will while I was gone for three months,” be served. he said. Another opportunity allowed
