NIA far and wide: Leaders from across country come to Polk State

As hoped, the National Public Safety Innovation Academy (NIA) has proven to have national appeal. The first cohort featured 21 participants from eight different states, four different time zones, and of six different ranks.

The eight-week executive program helps mid-level managers and future administrators in law enforcement and corrections take the next step in their careers. Launched in partnership between Polk State College and the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the first cohort featured participants from Florida, Arizona, Alaska, Michigan, Texas, Idaho, Utah, and Virginia.

“The caliber of the instructors was top notch,” said Chief Jeff Brown of Alaska’s North Slope Borough Police Department. “Secondary to that, the amount of experience of the participants really stands out. There’s an unheard-of amount of experience in one room.”

Brown has been the chief of his agency since 2017 and has 23 years of experience in law enforcement. He traveled the furthest of any participant from the cohort. Lt. H. Keith Weir is a 23-year law enforcement veteran with the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office in Michigan – the largest sheriff’s office in the Wolverine State.

“Once I heard about it, I did a little research about the program and thought this was something that would benefit me greatly in the future,” Weir said. “I was blessed and honored to be given this opportunity. It’s a broad, diverse group of participants.”

Brown noted that working with experienced colleagues from across the country is another one of the big advantages of NIA. During his time at the College’s state-of-the-art Center for Public Safety in Winter Haven, Brown said he made relationships that will last a lifetime.

“That’s one of the most important takeaways,” he said. “Working in groups with fellow participants has been just as helpful. This wouldn’t happen with a two- or three-day course. Because of the length of time, you really get to know everyone and develop these lifelong relationships.”

Weir offered similar sentiments. While the participants learn from nationally recognized subject matter experts, they also learn from one another.

“In many ways, it’s challenged me mentally,” Weir said. “They encourage group participation. A lot of the leadership courses I’ve taken, there were lectures and PowerPoints. This is so much different. They engage each participant with questions and make you think about things that take you out of your norm. They don’t just partner you with whoever is sitting next to you. You have to participate here.”

Takeaways

Over the length of the course, participants learned from renowned subject matter experts from across the country to examine contemporary issues and explore future trends in public safety and criminal justice. Participants can earn up to 12 college credits, but more importantly, they leave with the skills and knowledge to craft innovative policies and procedures to address and direct high-liability situations that agencies encounter in today’s climate.

“I want to continue to serve my department for as long as I can be useful to the community,” Brown said. “This was a way for me to improve myself. We owe it to our departments to continue to evolve. I’ve got a lot of recruitment ideas here on how to reach a wider audience. I’ve learned a lot of ways I think we can improve. We always have to be looking toward tomorrow.”

“One of the things I was excited about are the lectures on recruitment and retention,” Weir said. “That’s a big problem, not just in Michigan, but everywhere else, too. One of the things that was eye-opening to me was when they talked about finding the right person for the job and not just filling a position.”

NIA features names such as Steve Gregory, a journalist with more than 40 years of experience who lectures on media relations, as well as Pete Cordero, a cybersecurity expert and author.

“Every course has made me think and I feel like I’ve got something that I can take back to my agency out of every single one of them,” Brown said. “Courses are intended to challenge you. Even if they don’t directly correlate to your job now, that doesn’t mean it won’t in the future.”

Other notable lecturers for NIA include Cathy Greenberg and Matthew Werner. Greenberg is an author and renowned expert on leadership and human behavior. Werner was a commander for U.S. Navy Seal Team Six – best known for finding and killing al-Qaeda leader Osama Bin Laden.

“To get someone like that to come here to Polk State College and teach people like us is incredible,” Weir said. “I have been very impressed with the curriculum and the presenters.”

While the curriculum is intended to challenge participants’ minds, there is also a functional fitness portion of the program. It is facilitated by Auburndale-based UltraFit.

“The physical aspect and doing (physical training) twice a week, that’s challenging,” Weir said. “I didn’t think I could do the ropes course and I passed it twice.”

Brown said he appreciated that the program could be modified based on the participant’s fitness level. He noted that a state-of-the-art fitness facility or a gym membership was not a requirement to stay in shape.

“You reach a certain level of your career and you find yourself spending a lot of time sitting in your office,” Brown said. “The functional fitness program is something I could learn to do and something I can take back with me and implement in the department.”

From Polk State College’s state-of-the-art Center for Public Safety to the all-inclusive Cabana Cottages where participants stay, Weir and Brown raved about the facilities.

“The facilities are phenomenal,” Brown contended. “It was one of the first things I called home to tell about. No one in Alaska has a facility that comes close to this.”

“The facilities here are top notch,” Weir added. “Everything is clean, it’s new, it’s vibrant. The people here are wonderful. I was greeted as soon as I walked in the door by someone who had never seen me before in his life and he was just as kind and welcoming as could be.”

Potential for NIA

The graduation for the first cohort was held on March 10. As trends in law enforcement and technology change, the program will adapt. The next cohort begins on Sept. 18 and lasts through Nov. 9. More information and registration is available at www.polk.edu/NIA.

“One thing I really appreciate is that the staff is looking for feedback,” Brown said. “They really care about being innovative as trends change. I think the potential is huge. I see no reason why agencies wouldn’t send people here.”