Akron Children’s was the first police agency in the state of Ohio and the first hospital police department in the U.S. to receive the prestigious FBI-LEEDA Trilogy award.
Congratulations to the hospital’s Public Safety department for receiving the FBI-LEEDA (Law Enforcement Executive Development Association) Trilogy award. The Trilogy award recognizes law enforcement professionals who attend a series of 3 core education programs (Supervisor, Command and Executive Leadership Institutes) that provide mid to upper-level leaders with intensive training in the latest management concepts and practices.
According to Jerry Klue, director and chief of police, department of public safety, Akron Children’s was the first police agency in the state of Ohio and the first hospital police department in the U.S. to receive this prestigious award.
“Through my years of leading police departments, I have emphasized the importance of continuing professional development for all members of the department,” he said. “I often noticed that leaders were promoted without the proper coaching for their new responsibilities. FBI-LEEDA fills that gap by providing in-depth training and networking among police professionals across the U.S.”
Classes are taught using student-centered and problem-based learning which allows student leaders to take real challenges they face and develop solutions based on input provided from peers in the class.
“All FBI-LEEDA instructors are current or former police executives,” said Chief Klue. “They provide real world police leadership by passing on their successful and challenging experiences, as well as the lessons learned from their failures.”
The department of Public Safety police officers works proactively with other teams in the hospital to create the safest environment for patients and staff.
The hospital’s entire command staff which includes Michael Lott, administrative lieutenant; William (Keith) Heilmeier, patrol lieutenant, Akron bureau; John Costantino, patrol lieutenant, Mahoning Valley bureau; and James Phister, investigations lieutenant, attended the sessions.
“As each of the lieutenants progressed through the classes, it was clear that our first line supervisors could benefit from the training as well,” said Chief Klue.
Alicia Lindsey and Kevin Gellner, sergeants, Akron bureau, and Michael Longo and Christopher Sable, sergeants Mahoning Valley bureau, are scheduled to complete the series in 2022.
The classes cover many modern-day themes facing police agencies including building trust and legitimacy, policy and oversight, technology and social media, community and crime reduction, training and education, and officer wellness and safety.
Some of public safety’s emerging challenges, like recruitment and selection, are also examined in classes.
“Students discuss the obstacles they face recruiting candidates and retaining employees,” said Chief Klue. “For example, we are currently building relationships within the local education community to identify high school students interested in law enforcement. This provides a unique recruitment opportunity and the ability for us to align these students with their career aspirations out of high school.”
Chief Klue says he credits his success as a leader with the foundational leadership principles of trust, respect and dignity.
“I have earned trust and respect by being of good character, working hard, listening attentively, being decisive, honest and true to my word, and never asking anyone to do something that I would not do myself,” he said. “I ask my employees to use these values and principles each day to continue to earn each other’s trust and put the interests of others and the organization first as they grow in their positions.”
