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APD lieutenant completes rigorous course at FBI academy By Myles Murphy Ashland Daily Tidings One morning in September, Ashland Police Lt. Mike Bianca opened his eyes to stark dormitory room walls of an FBI training center and asked himself, "Am I really in Quantico, Virginia? Why in the world did I do this?" Now he knows. "It was the most exciting, fulfilling experience I've ever had in my life," Bianca said, a hint of awe in his voice. Trained by FBI and civilian experts, Bianca spent 11 weeks honing his mind and body at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He took courses in police ethics and standards, forensic science, behavioral science and others. A course on Constitutional law proved very useful. "It was an outstanding course," Bianca said. "It's very crucial for me to understand the scope and limits of the police." He found himself fascinated by advances in DNA technology, and disturbed but enlightened with study of the behavior of child molesters and serial killers. A course in community and media relations has already showed dividends. "I'm currently putting that to use," Bianca said, joking about telling his story to The Tidings. At 50 - and with a lifetime of service to the law - Bianca was surprised at how much there was he did not already know. "I thought, 'How did I get this far in my career without knowing all this?'" he said. Bianca is the sixth representative from the Ashland Police Department to complete the program, which only takes three officers from Oregon for each session. He applied for the program seven years ago - so long ago that he forgot he had put in his name. But eventually he was accepted, joining hundreds of other officers at similar levels of experience from around the world. The program is primarily for advanced, command-level officers, so Bianca found himself in a mature group. "I was not the oldest, but I was one of the oldest," he said, adding that the physical training was as fun as the mental training. "There was a contingent of gray haired old guys with whom I fit right in." While APD officers are not required to keep on a regular exercise regimen for the job, the FBI program held training, stretching and health related session three or four times a week. "I thrived," Bianca said. The director of the program was an advocate of a blend of physical and mental training, and even used the word "holistic" - a word with which Bianca is familiar here in Ashland, but which caught him off guard in a high-security FBI training center. Bianca was one of about 250 command-level officers in the academy program. The trainees came from across the country, with 22 hailing from foreign countries. "This is how the FBI creates its network of contacts around the world," he said. The contact with peers was also valuable, allowing the officers to share experiences and build contacts throughout the law enforcement community. "I have a tremendous new respect for law enforcement at the federal level and officers throughout the country," Bianca said. "This new knowledge puts things in perspective." While at Quantico, Bianca said he was impressed with a feeling of sanctity while walking halls decorated with art, shrines to officers killed in the line of duty and sculptures and displays of J. Edgar Hoover. But he grew particularly fond of a spot which featured a bust of Thomas Jefferson with a Jefferson quote which stuck with him: "And say finally, whether peace is best preserved by giving energy to the government, or information to the people. This last is the most certain, and the most legitimate engine of government. Educate and inform the whole mass of the people." The veteran officer will be eligible for retirement in four years. But there is a possibility Bianca may stay at the job longer, especially now that he's had the FBI academy experience. "It was a nice shot in the arm looking at retirement coming up," Bianca said. "I have tons of restored enthusiasm." LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Business | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -