Rochester officer graduates from FBI program

Rochester Police Lt. Jason Thomas (Courtesy photo)

ROCHESTER - Rochester Police Lt. Jason Thomas was one of 221 law enforcement personnel who graduated last month from the FBI National Academy Program in Quantico, Va.

Thomas underwent 10 weeks of intense FBI training in the field of investigative work, management and fitness training.

The program is designed for selected officers who have proven records as professionals within their agencies.

International law enforcement agencies as well as the U.S. military and lawmen from all over the country and the District of Columbia were represented.

Thomas said the coursework was intense and wide ranging.

“I can tell you that the classes I took were top notch,” he said last week. “They included fitness in law enforcement, contemporary issues in media relations, stress management in law enforcement, conflict resolution, interviewing strategies through statement analysis and leadership for law enforcement.”

He said the classes were “challenging but very definitely worthwhile.”

Thomas has been employed by the City of Rochester for 23 years. Prior to that he was a police explorer in Rochester in the mid- to late 80s.

His first seven years with the department were spent as a dispatcher. In 1998 he was hired on as a police officer.

Since then he has served as training coordinator, patrol sergeant, and is currently a patrol lieutenant.