SPD officer shares experience from FBI National Academy
Captain Mark Ballard with the Starkville Police Department graduated from the Federal Bureau of Investigation National Academy on June 7, and has begun to share his new knowledge with the men and women of the department.
In April, Ballard left Starkville to attend the FBI's National Academy program, where he took 12 graduate-level courses in 10 weeks.
Ballard said he was honored to have been selected by the National Academy to attend. He said he credits their choice on the reputation of Chief Nichols, who is also an FBI NA graduate, and of the men and women in SPD.
"Going to the National Academy in Quantico was a phenomenal experience," Ballard said. "It gave me the opportunity to meet and network with law enforcement leaders at national and international levels."
Police officers from around the world attended the 268th Session of the FBI National Academy. Ballard said officers learned from one another's philosophies and experiences as much as they learned from their instructors.
"It was very unique to see how different parts of the country had different perspectives on law enforcement, yet we are all facing the same challenges, and that holds true internationally," Ballard said.
THE COURSEWORK
Ballard said one of the most important classes he took was on media and managing the law enforcement image. The class required the students to be interviewed and to assess interviews. The students also watched interviews and graded the officer on how the crisis was handled and how well the message was received.
"It is critical for modern departments to know their image and to be able to establish trust within the community," Ballard "The class … showed how to transform community policing onto a social media platform."
Another topic Ballard studied was applications of intelligence-led policing. This course focused on the role of analytic law enforcement. Ballard also studied law enforcement leadership, which he said discussed many contemporary issues and challenges that police officers face.
"Nothing was off the table, whether it was race relations, social media, body cameras, any topic and every topic," Ballard said.
BRINGING HIS KNOWLEDGE TO STARKVILLE
Ballard hopes to use his new knowledge to strengthen the SPD. In the month since he returned home from Quantico, Ballard said the department has been working to improve its crime scene management.
"Our ability to process a crime scene is absolutely critical in the successful prosecution of criminals," Ballard said. "We have already put together a team within our department that's working on the development and improvement of our crime scene capability."
Many police departments in Mississippi send evidence to the state's crime lab to be processed, which overloads the state lab and slows down the investigation process. Ballard learned of other resources that can help analyze crime scenes. For example, many crime scene fundamentals can be managed at the local level, and in the case of homicides the Department of Justice can help with evidence.
Ballard said crime scene management is the first way he is using his new knowledge to help the SPD improve.
"I think that perhaps the most important part of this process is the ability to assist our department," Ballard said. "In turn, I really hope to be able to help out the city of Starkville."