Jim Thorpe Borough’s police chief will be one of 40 law enforcement officials in the country to attend the FBI’s inaugural National Command Course in May.

Joe Schatz said the weeklong course in Fredericksburg, Virginia, is designed for small municipalities and will involve training and fact-finding opportunities on how chiefs across the rest of the country command their police departments.

“I can’t wait to go and network with the other attendees,” Schatz said of the session, which comes at no cost to the borough. “I know there will be a lot of great ideas that I can bring back to Carbon County that will hopefully improve how we go about our business as a department. We all want to make sure our community is a safe place to live, work and enjoy the natural beauty. This is a wonderful opportunity to help build on that mission.”

Approximately 87% of law enforcement agencies in the United States, according to the NCC website, are staffed by fewer than 50 sworn officers. Half of those agencies have 10 or fewer officers.

“Many of these departments do not have a training or travel budget for sworn employees to receive training beyond the basic state mandated police academy. Pay, benefits, department resources and training opportunities for these officers can lag behind their counterparts in nearby larger agencies and often results in a lack of exposure to contemporary law enforcement issues, training, and even case law. The need for strong leadership and contemporary training for these crucial FBI liaison partners is very important. The NCC will bridge this gap.”

Mayor Michael Sofranko said the FBI sought nominations for conference attendees and in selecting Schatz, said he was, “among a very elite group who qualified to attend the prestigious program.”

Schatz said his passion for serving the borough was a driving force in leading him to apply for the conference.

“I love the borough,” he said. “I was born and raised here and I’m honored to be their chief. We have a great council, mayor and community that supports the police."

According to event organizers, NCC participants will study emerging trends to help anticipate changes, study how to establish trust in a community and build on that trust through leadership and practical policies, how to practice wellness and care of personnel that leads to overall personal and organizational benefits, and study exploring new processes to overcome obstacles.

Participants have the opportunity to exchange plans, identify problems, and create solutions with their peers; to develop new thoughts and ideas; and to share successes of their own communities, according to the NCC website.

“The interaction among the executives is worthwhile for them as well. Some of the most productive learning takes place outside of the classroom during informal interaction.”

Council threw its support behind Schatz during a workshop session last week.

“I think they made a wise choice,” Council President Greg Strubinger said of the FBI’s decision to include Schatz in the conference. “He has represented the borough well and in a professional manner for a number of years.”