The East Ridge Police Department is proud to announce that Lt. Josh Creel is the most recent ERPD Officer to graduate from the FBI National Academy.

The National Academy is a 10-week professional development class for law enforcement executives designed to enhance leadership. Lt. Creel completed the course on June 9.

Lt. Creel said there were 254 people in his class representing 49 states and more than a dozen international departments. Lt. Creel said aside from the leadership and physical training classes that were mandatory, he focused on classes dealing with communications within the department and with the media.

Lt. Creel began his career with the ERPD in November of 2001 as a patrol officer. He was assigned to duties as a narcotics detective before moving on to general investigations. Lt. Creel was promoted to the rank of lieutenant in October of 2017 and is currently the supervisor of the Criminal Investigations Division (CID), the Crime Suppression Unit and the K-9 Unit.

The other ERPD Officers to graduate from the National Academy are Lt. Daniel Stephenson and Assistant Chief Clint Uselton.

Chief Stan Allen attended the National Academy while working at Chattanooga PD. ERPD plans to send other officers when notified by the FBI that slots are available.

Contributed photo – Lt. Josh Creel recently graduated from the FBI National Academy.