Lieutenant Ryan Eaton of the Corvallis Police Department graduated from the National FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. 

Eaton is part of the one percent of law enforcement officers around the world accepted into the 10-week-long training program that includes physical and academic components. The class graduated on September 13, 2022 and consisted of 235 police officials from 21 countries.

“[The FBI National Academy] was designed to train the upper echelon, if you will, of Law Enforcement Executives from around the country,” said Nick Hurley, chief of the Corvallis Police Department. “I think it was the sixties, when John F. Kennedy invited some of our allied countries to start sending folks as a way to build networks and bridges with those professionals.”

Eaton graduated from Western Oregon University with a Bachelor’s in Science and Psychology. He was inspired to attend their program after talking to the dean of the criminal justice program. 

After that, he began entry-level law enforcement jobs and worked his way up to the CPD. 

“Corvallis was the organization that gave me my shot at being a police officer and so I’m very grateful to be where I’m at now, because they’ve treated me very well here and I’m glad this was the place that I ended up,” Eaton said.

Officers enroll in classes such as cybercrime, evidence collection, public speaking, leadership, engagement with the media, executive writing, wellness and mental health of officers, and more. 

“It’s like going back to college,” Eaton said. 

“This is another way to have us being connected globally, to help one another. So it’s a real big deal for the city and the local community” Hurley said. “We’re very proud of Ryan. It’s a big commitment and a personal sacrifice to spend 10 weeks apart from your family and your life and your animals.”

The FBI National Academy hosts a Flag Night where the cafeteria stages flags from places in which the officers originated. Their new FBI special agents stand by the flag of their station and meet the officers of the FBI National Academy. 

“You get to exchange business cards and be like a resource for them when they land in [your] state,” Eaton said. 

This networking is one aspect of his training he will bring back to Corvallis, and has already begun working with other officers from different countries. Eaton plans to integrate his learning from classes in the academy to the Corvallis community. 

“We’re always adapting how we do things in response to what’s going on nationally, in our state and in our community. So our organization is constantly changing and adjusting and adapting to what’s going on. So things I learned in that classroom will be helpful,” Eaton said

“One of the classes I took was about operational change, managing change and leading through change,” Eaton said. 

As Hurley retires in December and new Chief Jason Harvey takes his place, there are aspects that will change. Eaton feels with his training the transition will run smoothly.

“[I’m] very fortunate that I was selected to go, very grateful to my agency, to my chief for nominating me to do this. So it’s a great honor. It will be a highlight of my career” Eaton said.