Lt. Wale bringing FBI techniques, know-how back to St. John
Published 12:07 am Wednesday, March 30, 2016
- Lt. Chip Wale, who recently returned from a 10-week FBI training academy, holds bricks he received in recognition of completing the training. The black brick was awarded because Wale biked 263 miles, and the yellow indicates Wale finished the Yellow Brink Road Marine Corps obstacle course.
LAPLACE — Lt. Chip Wale has been a part of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office for 16 years. Besides helping the community where others may not be able to, Wale enjoys attending different training programs and bringing back the knowledge he learned to St. John Parish.
Lt. Chip Wale of the
St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office holds the certificate
he received following
completion of the FBI National Training Academy, training
he says makes him
a better leader and
provides new ideas
to share with local
law enforcement.
The recent FBI National Training Academy graduate spent 10 weeks at the FBI campus in Quantico, Va., fine tuning his leadership skills, fitness and forensics knowledge to better serve his community and train others in the department.
Wale graduated March 18 from the 263th session.
He was among 230 graduates from 47 states and 21 countries.
St. John Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre said Wale was selected to attend the training academy over the summer.
“As a graduate of the 219th session of the FBINA, I am very well aware of the benefits of the training and networking during the 10 weeks in Quantico,” Tregre said. “I was happy to give Chip the opportunity to experience this high level of training to bring it back to share with the officers in our department.”
Tregre said he selected Wale because of his hard work, good work ethic and daily efforts to improve officer training.
“He earned the honor and the opportunity,” Tregre said.
Wale said the program, formed in 1953 under J. Edgar Hoover, is accredited by the University of Virginia and all graduates receive college credit hours.
“It’s a leadership and law enforcement advancement school,” Wale said. “You have to have a minimum of a lieutenant rank in order to attend, so it’s designed for senior executives in law enforcement agencies.”
Wale said he first applied for the program three years ago. The lieutenant is the fifth St. John officer to attend.
“It was a great feeling,” he said. “I was a little nervous at first because I didn’t know what to expect. Speaking with the other guys that graduated from the program and listening to their experience made it easier.
“Being away from my wife that long was a little difficult, but it was well worth it.”
Wale said he took a lot of courses in the psychology of leadership and was able to look at his own leadership style and see how others are perceived and, perhaps, find ways to be a better leader.
He also learned a lot about forensics and the capabilities and offerings of FBI labs.
Through networking, Wale said he can now pick up the phone and call individuals in other law enforcement agencies or even the FBI for help to better serve his community.
“Whether it be a forensics issue, an investigative issue or even policy and procedure, it was a huge networking opportunity where you create friends for life that will help with you with different things that you may need,” he said.
Wale said the 10-week program recharged his batteries and gave him the opportunity to analyze what the Sheriff’s Office is doing and how it can improve.
“I applied for the program for personal development,” he said. “I wanted to better myself as a leader and I wanted to challenge myself. I wanted to bring more to the table as the training director for the agency.”
By Raquel Derganz Baker
