New Ringgold police chief Dan Bilbrey recently attended the Chief Executive Training Class for newly ap-pointed chiefs of police and heads of law enforcement agencies at the R. Curtis McClung Training Center in Du-luth,Ga., from Oct. 4 through Oct. 13.

The 60-hour course, which was provided and administered by the Georgia Association of Chiefs of Police (GACP), is a state requirement for all newly appointed heads of law enforcement.

Bilbrey, who took the position of Ringgold police chief on Sept. 20, will also be required to complete 20 hours of management/executive level training each year.

The curriculum is designed to give newly appointed law enforcement administrators further training on police management, as well as inform them of laws and policies that affect their respective departments. Topics covered in the included: Managerial Liability and EEOC, Policy Manpower Allocation, Budget Administration, Political and Practical Realities, Office and Roles of the Police Chief, Ethics, Media Relations, Departmental Organization, Em-ployee Selection Process, Georgia POST Council, Promotional Systems, Open Records Act, Developing Policies, Law Enforcement Forum, Leadership/Management Role of the Chief, Employee Performance and Employee Discipline, and Legislative Process.

“Georgia law enforcement agencies are continuing to provide the best level of service to the citizens they serve despite significant budget reductions,” said Woodrow W. Blue, Jr., who is the president of the GACP president, from the Milledgeville Police Department. “This program provides professional law enforcement training to assist the chief executives in discussing innovative ways to concerns, while still maintaining high standards of excellence.”

Chief Bilbrey was among 49 law enforcement administrators who attended the course.

The GACP is the largest professional association for law enforcement administrators in the state of Georgia, and one of the largest in the country.

The membership of over 1,700 includes executives representing municipal and county law enforcement agencies, college and university police departments, corporate and private security firms, as well as numerous state and federal agencies.

“The whole course was really a great experience,” Bilbrey said. “It was a great opportunity, I learned a lot, and it was valuable being able to interact with other department heads.”