After graduating from the F.B.I. National Academy, a Fargo police captain relates his experiences

Fargo, North Dakota – Following his graduation from a national academy hosted by the Federal Bureau of Investigation, a captain from the Fargo Police Department is sharing some encouraging stories.

The FBI National Academy is open to local law enforcement officials as well as interested national and international organizations. 246 officers attended the academy in Quantico, Virginia for ten weeks of instruction in areas like leadership, fitness, and communication. Since the academy’s founding in 1935, a total of 54,154 people have graduated.

“It was just a fantastic opportunity for me to go out and improve my skills, improve my knowledge, and expand my horizons […] “said Fargo Police Captain Chris Helmick in an interview on WDAY Midday, “I received a lot of great instruction and got to work on my physical fitness a little bit too. It was just a great all-around experience.”

The Community Services Division of the Fargo Police Department is currently under Captain Helmick’s command. He claims that among the most important lessons he took away from the experience are ways to connect with the public and the media, how to improve officer welfare in the field, and how to share strategies and tactics with other participating agencies.

“On behalf of the Fargo Police Department, I congratulate Captain Helmick on this notable accomplishment, “said Fargo Police Chief Dave Zibolski, “I am immeasurably proud of the members of our organization who have graduated from the National Academy, as they embody FPD’s values of professionalism and guardianship.”