Colonel John Aubrey, Sheriff

Jefferson County (KY) Sheriff's Office

Course Attended:
40th Administrative Officers Course

Chief of Police, Dennis Nelson

Course Attended
111th Administrative Officers Course

SPI is the Place for Law Enforcement Professionals to Become Leaders

"My experience at SPI certainly ranks among the highest achievements in my law enforcement career. The training experience is second to none among professional training programs and I encourage anyone interested in advancing in their career or expanding their knowledge to get involved in this course. The instructors are practical experts in the field and teach on a level that all cops can relate to. The professional contacts are truly invaluable and the lasting friendships are priceless."

Major Stanley Lampkin, Retired

Course Attended
103rd Administrative Officers Course

SPI - The Best Police Leadership Training

"Prior to attending the Southern Police Institute, I did not fully understand or appreciate the benefit of leadership training for upper level law enforcement management for someone who had been in law enforcement for more than twenty years. But, I found the training I received at SPI the most challenging, informative and invaluable training of my career. The training gave me the knowledge and confidence to prvide reasoned and sound decisions as a leader and I truly believed it made a difference in my organization

For any law enforcement agency that is considering a training program that educated their law enforcement managers and provides the needed leadership skills and knoweldge that will ultimately benefit their organization in the long run, I recommend SPI."

Lieutenant David Rushton

Pelham Police Department, Pelham, AL

Course Attended
123rd Administrative Officers Course

My AOC Experience

"I have attended many law enforcement training schools in my 20+ year career and the Administrative Officers Course is by far the best course I have attended. I spent 12 weeks learning how to be a more efficient and effective law enforcement leader while making many new friends in the process. Networking with all the other students from the different law enforcement agencies from around the country has proven to be a valuable resource as well. I returned to my department a more confident supervisor due to the high quality training I received and I felt more prepared to handle any future challenges in my job as a Sergeant. When the opportunity for advancement arose, I excelled in the Lieutenant’s assessment center and placed first out of all the candidates. It was pointed out to me by several people that it was evident that my training at SPI had paid off and helped prepare me for my promotion to Lieutenant."

Assistant Chief of Police Mike Cochran

Lauderhill Police Department

Course Attended
105th Administrative Officers Course

Highly Recommend the AOC

"The AOC program at the SPI was an exceptional one that gave me first-hand experience in being overloaded to the point that I thought it was not doable, but it was. The multitasking skills that the AOC helps develop have been invaluable throughout my career. The friends I made there were also exceptional and many of us still stay in touch. The academics at the AOC, particularly the graduate level options, are top notch. I strongly recommend sending people to the program that you want to develop for future leadership roles in law enforcement."

Captain Jarvis Saunders

Retired

After SPI

"The education I received at SPI, along with the people I got to know has proven invaluable to me since my graduation. Not only, in my police career (retiring as a Captain) but, in my founding and heading the international non-profit organization, Project Lifesaver. This organization is grounded in working with law enforcement and public safety."

Chief Brian Phillips

Johnstown Police Department

Course Attended
116th Administrative Officers Course

Building Confidence

"In the first week of my attendance at the 116th AOC, one of my instructors - Alex Ferguson, asked the class if any of us would one day like to be a Chief or Sheriff and lead their agency. Alex then asked me directly if that was a goal of mine, and I was personally surprised at how quickly I responded “No.” The next question Alex asked of me was “Why not?”

During that first week, I lacked the confidence to lead an agency. But over the next three months I learned more than I would have thought possible; not only from the classroom instruction, but from all the time and discussions I had with my fellow classmates. I developed valuable knowledge and future professional contacts and personal friendships that I still have5 years later.

I took Alex Ferguson’s question as kind of a professional challenge. A year after graduating with the class of the 116th, I had a new found confidence to retire early and accept a Police Chief Position in Colorado. I truly believe that I owe that confidence to the instructors and my classmates of the SPI."

Lieutenant Barry Madden

Louisville Metro Police Department, Louisville, Kentucky

Course Attended
100th Administrative Officers Course

A Challenge

"It was a great opportunity and experience to attend the Southern Police Institute's Administrative Officers Course. The curriculum and faculty definitely challenged each of us to focus on making our respective police agencies more effective and efficient. I found it interesting, regardless of the size or type of law enforcement agency, the challenges and issues are the same. The professional contacts and friendships are invaluable."

Executive Director Vernon "Frank" Adams

Nevada Sheriffs' and Chiefs' Association

Course Attended
87th Administrative Officers Course

Police Leaders for the 21st Century

"Graduating from the 87th AOC was truly a career changing event for me. I attended SPI almost 20 years ago and it changed my whole perspective of supervision, management and administration of a law enforcement agency. Since that time, I have recommended several young mid-managers from Nevada law enforcement agencies attend the SPI - AOC program and they too returned with similar experiences. Since retiring from the Nevada Department of Public Safety, I have had the privilege of serving in two other law enforcement related organizations and used the tools provided by SPI to assist me in the promotion of professional law enforcement practices. It is something that every potential law enforcement administrator should be required to attend. SPI will continue to produce excellent law enforcement leaders for the 21st Century."

Deputy Regional Director Mark Cranfill

Federal Protective Service/U.S. Department of Homeland Security

Course Attended
125th Administrative Officers Course

A Truly Unique Professional Development Opportunity

Danny Miles

Retired, Covington Police Department

Course Attended
102nd Administrative Officers Course

Leadership for Today and Tomorrow

"It's understood that only a few officers will get the opportunity for such a wonderful experience. The exposure to some of the top law enforcement officials from around the world, mixed with the outstanding staff and saturated with learning continues to serve me to this day. After retiring as a Captain with the Covington Kentucky Police Department, I went on to be appointed the Chief Deputy Kenton County Clerk. To this day I cherish the friendships and skills developed at the Southern Police Institute. While my formal education continued, I only wear the SPI ring. Happy Anniversary. Continued success."

Chief Bruce Davis

Retired

Course Attended
77th Administrative Officers Course

The Best Available Police Executive Training

"When I attended the AOC I had already completed a Master Degree in Management. Despite that I found that the AOC course content was very challenging. The things I learned in the course were of invaluable help to me when I served as a project manager on several multi-million Dollar computer and communications project with the Hollywood, Florida PD. When I first decided to leave Hollywood PD to become a police chief it was clear to me in my first job as Chief that getting selected from 140 other candidates was certainly influenced by the reputation of SPI and my graduation from a number of SPI's management courses including the AOC. After serving as Police Chief in Liberty, MO for several years I was selected to start up a brand new police department in the Village of Pinecrest, Miami-Dade County. The coursework I completed at SPI was of invaluable assistance to me in this very complex task. After a very satisfying career, including teaching at a local college, I am now retired in Crossville, TN."

 Assistant Chief George Orr

City of Forest Park Georgia

Course Attended
107th Administrative Officers Course

Big Orr and My Time at SPI

"The knowledge and the life long friendships that I have developed since attending the class are the greatest things I took away from class. It was the most challenging thing that I have ever done in my life. I would take nothing for it."

Deputy Chief Steve Smith

Anchorage Police Department

Course Attended
100th Administrative Officers Course

A Proud SPI Alum!

"My SPI AOC experience is one of my fondest memories, and was the most significant developmental opportunity in my career. The coursework was challenging and expanded my thinking tremendously as a new leader, and I made many new friends in the profession from around the country. The Graduate Option gave me my first graduate-level university credits, which motivated me to go back to school and earn my masters degree in 2003. My SPI experience continued to build me years after I left!"

Chief Charles T.C. Kamai

Kodiak Police Department

Course Attended
99th Administrative Officers Course

99th AOC

"The most challenging course I ever attended, but well worth the gray hair and weight loss. I was promoted to Chief within a year of graduating. I have used, bench-marked, copied and implemented everything I learned from the AOC."

Captain Jeff Eason

Mecklenburg Co. Sheriff's Office

Course Attended
102nd Administrative Officers Course

This Was a Great Experience for Me

Lieutenant James Heady

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Course Attended:
124th Administrative Officers Course

I Feel Blessed!

"I feel blessed, not only for getting through the training, but also for being given the opportunity to go. The Southern Police Institute professors, guest speakers, and instructors are top notch and they are very knowledgeable of the material.

In the AOC, through the combination of class work, studying, group projects, presentations, papers, stress, dorm life, examinations, and more, I formed a special connection with my SPI associates. The friendships and bridges that you build during the AOC will not only help in your career, but will last a lifetime. I miss everyone and hope they are all doing well.

When thinking of SPI, I often relate it to an encouraging quote from my former Colonel Robert Milligan, "This is a great opportunity for personal and professional development that has applications far beyond your career progression. The long term rewards far outweigh any short term inconveniences."

I hope someone finds those words of encouragement and signs up for AOC. It is a great experience!

A Great Lifelong Achievement

"What a great experience to be associated with such an elite Institute and the many members to which I have become acquainted!

My greatest memories  are not only from attending the 94th AOC, but from being a part of the SPI Alumni Association (SPIAA) and the SPIAA National President from 2004 through 2005. 

The Williamsburg re-training conference was a huge success as a result of many long days of fund-raising and organizing by some of the greatest people I have ever worked with.

I want to thank my wife, Linda, for many long hours spent supporting me during this challenging time and for always standing by my side.

Dr. Bill Walsh will always, in my mind, be a legend of the Southern Police Institute. He issued many academic challenges that we as students of the 94th thought could never be met, but – thanks to his guidance - were achieved.

May the SPIAA National and Virginia Chapters forever be strong and committed to broadening the minds of all National and Virginia alumni with continued quality and superb training."

Lieutenant-Retired, Bobby Ratliff

 Sheriff Joe Browning, Gallia County, Ohio

Course Attended: Management of a Small Law Enforcement Agency

Small Agency Management

"I attended the Management of the Small Law Enforcement Agency seminar in May 2001 and consider it one of the better courses I have ever attended on Law Enforcement management. I hope to return and complete the NSA Executive Leadership Program. SPI is first rate in training! Thanks again."

Rick Pleasants

Course Attended: 64th AOC

What an Experience!

"There are so many memories of this experience.  First, the dormitory life was something I had never experienced (except in the Army), and will never forget!"

Lt. Donna R. Ogden

Course Attended: 57th CODC

SPI Pride

"I am proud of my affiliation with SPI and University of Louisville, and gained so much through the contacts made with my fellow classmates and instructors. In fact, our class held a "reunion" last year, and one is in the works for this year. The course taught us some old things in new ways, and gave us a new way of thinking, to bring our agencies forward."