Elite Academy Is High Police Honor
By Jennifer Buske
Washington Post Staff Writer
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Manassas Police Lt. William Hutchinson and Prince William County Police Lt. John Twomey will join 250 other law enforcement officials in Quantico today to begin a 10-week stint at the FBI National Academy.
The training program, which is open to law enforcement personnel from the United States and other nations, is one of the most prestigious in the country and something only 1 percent of U.S. law enforcement command officers get to attend during their careers, said Manassas Police Chief John J. Skinner.
"I'm very excited, because this is a very prestigious and highly sought-after training academy," said Hutchinson, who has been with the Manassas Police Department for 11 years. "From what I have heard, this will be a phenomenal experience."
Hutchinson and Twomey will be stationed at the FBI's Quantico campus until March 13, attending classes in behavioral and forensic science, leadership development, communication, and health and fitness.
The academy, which is funded by the FBI, is open by invitation only. It began in July 1935 after the Wickersham Commission recommended the standardization of law enforcement departments across the nation through centralized training.
"This is one of the most highly regarded professional and leadership development academies in the world," said Skinner, who, along with representatives from the Washington Field Office of the FBI, selected Hutchinson to attend. "It provides the city with . . . groomed future leadership to ensure a continuity of operations as chiefs and assistant chiefs retire."
Hutchinson will be the 12th command officer still active in Manassas to go through the program, Skinner said. The 38-year-old Culpeper resident oversees technical services at the police department, monitoring the dispatch center, computers, radios and other communication devices.
A graduate of Slippery Rock University in Pennsylvania, Hutchinson said he has always wanted to work in law enforcement. Although he toyed with the idea of joining the FBI, he said he decided to stay with the local force.
"I've wanted to do this ever since I was a kid. I don't know if it was the uniform or what," he said. "I just enjoy being in a police car and having that constant daily interaction with citizens."
Hutchinson, a five-time marathon runner, said he is looking forward to the physical fitness aspect of the academy. He is also interested in meeting and training with officers from around the world.
"I'm looking forward to getting the additional training and guidance," he said. "This is certainly something that can help prepare me and get me through another promotion and command level position."
Prince William police spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Chinn said the county has sent several officers through the FBI National Academy, which operates four programs a year.
Twomey, a Prince William resident, is a nighttime patrol lieutenant for the force. He graduated from George Mason University and joined the local department in 1984, Chinn said.
Twomey has served on the force's civil disturbance and search and rescue teams. He was also a K-9 handler in the special operations division and a supervisor in the criminal investigation division's special problems unit.
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