It’s just an ordinary brick, painted yellow with black letters’FBINA #229’stenciled on top.
But for Lt. Dale LaBair, the brick symbolizes 10 weeks of intense academic and physical training at the FBI National Academy in Virginia.
As commander of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office Independence Township substation, LaBair is among an elite few to attend the highly-regarded academy’only 12 others have been selected from OSCO since 1987.
‘It was a little more intense than I thought it would be,? LaBair said. ‘But it was fun, it was worth it.?
The academy, situated on the U.S. Marine Corps Base at Quantico, Virginia, gears the program toward police administrators and offers a course in professional study to leaders of state and local police, sheriffs? departments, military police organizations, and federal law enforcement agencies.
Participants arrive from all over the U.S., and across the world’about 150 foreign nations regularly send agency leaders to Virginia.
LaBair, who chose classes in counter-terrorism, constitutional law, labor law, forensic science and interpersonal communication, said the experience was both a refresher and an opportunity to learn about cutting-edge information.
‘The class work was outstanding,? he said. ‘There wasn’t the usual lull. Everyday was something brand new, and it kept you very interested.?
All the courses, he said, were taught by top-notch professionals.
‘We had some outstanding speakers,? he said, noting the group heard from high ranking FBI officials, as well as investigators in the OJ Simpson, Jon Benet Ramsey and other high profile cases. ‘These are people who know their way around.?
The academy is accredited through the University of Virginia, which administers the program’s academic component.
‘That was kind of tough,? he said. ‘I’ve been out of the academic circle for a long time.?
And while the class work was challenging, so too was the program’s physical component.
Previous attendees warned him to prepare for a rigorous training, so LaBair spent several months getting in shape when he learned in October of his acceptance to the academy.
With intense fitness classes scheduled with professional trainers three days a week, the pre-training, he said, turned out to be well worth the effort.
‘These are all scary guys,? said LaBair, apparently only half-joking. ‘We did things that made me hurt in places I hadn’t hurt, ever.?
In addition to the day-to-day fitness classes, participants also took part in a challenge, which grew progressively difficult as the weeks wore on.
The reward for completing the Marine Corps Confidence Course, a 3.5 mile obstacle course followed by a 3 mile run, was well worth the effort’the coveted yellow brick, derived in the 30s from the Wizard of Oz.
‘I don’t know how we did it, the whole thing was all uphill,? said LaBair, who joined the OSCO on his 21st birthday in 1972 and began serving as commander of the Independence Township substation about 10 years ago.
But the 10 weeks weren’t all about academics and physical training’LaBair and his classmates took part in several fun weekend trips, as well.
The group went on a horseback tour in Gettysburg, a trip to the White House, and another to New York City, where the New York Police Department supplied an escort so the group didn’t get caught in traffic.
A whirlwind tour to NYC’s must-see landmarks included the Empire State Building, Times Square, Coney Island, and Little Italy.
Then it was on to the Police museum, fire museum, and down to the NYFD fire boats where they embarked on a tour of the harbor and Ellis Island.
The group also made a few stops not available to the average tourist.
For example, the Port Authority Police gave the group a tour of Ground Zero’s non-public areas. They also toured the NYC Police Headquarters where they heard about the department’s specialized operations’and took pictures from the roof.
Around week nine, he said, the dorm-style living began to lose its charm. Luckily, he only had a week to go.
‘Graduation was a big deal,? said LaBair. ‘We had a lot of people there, a lot of families.?
LaBair’s wife and 10-year-old daughter flew down for the ceremony, and the trio toured Washington DC, including several Smithsonian museums, the White House, Rose Garden, and all the capital’s monuments before flying back home.
‘I’m honored to have been selected, and pleased to have done it,? he said. ‘It’s something that demands that you push yourself, so you’ve got to feel good when you’re done. I felt I accomplished something, and felt I learned something.?
But it was LaBair’s already long and distinguished career with the OCSO, said Oakland County Sheriff Michael Bouchard, that made him a good candidate for the academy.
‘He’s had a solid track record as a substation commander, which is an important position for me,? said Bouchard, noting that law enforcement officials consider it an honor to attend the FBI Academy. ‘So in some respects this is a reward, but in other ways it’s kind of selfish on our part, because we get a more experienced and educated commander.?
Bouchard has also attended several FBI National Academy events, including NEI’National Executive Institute’a training for leaders of large agencies across the globe.
‘Certainly the credentialing and the interactions are fabulous not only for the person but for the agency,? said Bouchard, who advocates the institute based on his own experience.
‘I use those contacts regularly,? he said, noting, for example, that one former classmate is chief constable for the Northern Ireland Police Service. ‘I could have an issue literally anywhere in the world and be able to pick up the phone and share information and resources with someone I know personally. It’s invaluable.?
The same is true, he said, for LaBair and others who attend the National Institute.
‘It’s not only educationally good for the participants in terms of their growth but it’s good for the agency because they get someone not only who has furthered their education but they have furthered contacts.?
Lt. Tim Adkins took the reins in Independence Township while LaBair was away attended the academy in 2003.
‘It was the height of my career,? he told The Clarkston News in March. ‘The academics were great, and with the international student population there were a lot of opportunities for networking. You have connections all over the world when you come back.?