St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office Capt. Adrian Chalona recently graduated from the prestigious FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
The 10-week professional course of study for U.S. and international law enforcement managers provides instruction in intelligence theory, terrorism and terrorist mindsets, management science, law, behavioral science, law enforcement communication, and forensic science.
According to Capt. Chalona, the course is broken down into six blocks of instruction taught by University of Virginia instructors, some of whom are FBI agents. There’s a physical aspect of the course that includes weekly challenges that need to be met, and forums are held with fellow law enforcement officers who have participated in various national tragic events, including the Pulse nightclub shootings in Orlando, Florida.
Capt. Chalona, who attended the course July 10 through Sept. 15, said he feels privileged to have had the opportunity to represent the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office at the National Academy. It’s been a long-time goal of his and he feels it will be a key advancement in his law enforcement career.
“It’s helped me gain confidence and have a deeper understanding and appreciation on how law enforcement works on a national level, not just locally,” Capt. Chalona said. “It has opened up the possibility of communicating with a vast variety of people and I feel it will benefit me throughout my career.”
Capt. Chalona, who has been with the St. Bernard Sheriff’s Office since 1998, works in corrections at the Parish Prison.
A St. Bernard native and 1992 graduate of Chalmette High School, Capt. Chalona is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in public administration from Upper Iowa University. He is a graduate of Peace Officers Standards and Training police academy and is a master instructor for the Sheriff’s Office Corrections Emergency Response Team. He also is a CERT commander at the parish jail and a former Post Corrections instructor.
