August 1, 2012

Portland police chief heading to FBI school

By David Hench dhench@mainetoday.com
Staff Writer

PORTLAND — As children across the state prepare to go back to school in September, so too is Portland Police Chief Michael Sauschuck.

click image to enlarge

Michael Sauschuck is sworn in by city clerk Katherine Jones as Portland's Police Chief on Monday, March 5, 2012 at City Hall. Sauschuck will soon begin 10 weeks of training at the FBI's National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.

Shawn Patrick Ouellette / Staff Photographer

Sauschuck is scheduled to leave for the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. at the end of September where he will take classes for 10 weeks.

"As the leader of a mid-size police department, it's very important we maintain that progressive approach and the only way to do that is stay connected," Sauschuck said. He notified members of the department this week.

Officers attending the FBI Academy are often considered future candidates for chief positions – not usually sitting chiefs.

In Sauschuck's case, he applied to attend the academy more than two years ago while former Chief James Craig was still running the department. Sauschuck postponed attending the academy while the city selected a new chief and while he chose his command staff.

Sauschuck said he also held off until the fall so that it would not interfere with the busy summer season or the budget season, which gets underway in January.

The academy will pay dividends for the city, he said. He will study topics like conflict resolution, managing organizational change and labor relations.

"As a law enforcement command staff member, your opportunity for that training is pretty limited. This is an an international known and admired program," he said. "You're always looking for best practices and trying to enhance your skill set."

Although he will stay briefed on issues affecting the department, Assistant Chief Vern Malloch will run the department in his absence.

Sauschuck plans to leave Sept. 30 and graduation is Dec. 14. He will continue getting paid while attending the school.

It's a return of sorts for Sauschuck, who served in the Marines and trained at Quantico.

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