BIDDEFORD — Some of the brightest minds and future law enforcement leaders from throughout the area and the state gathered in Biddeford last month for specialized training and instruction aimed to improve public safety.

Members of the Biddeford Police Department hosted the FBI Law Enforcement Executive Development Association Command Leadership Institute in March and drew 36 law enforcement personnel, public safety commissioners and sheriffs.

The nonprofit institute strives to advance the science and art of law enforcement leadership and to promote the exchange of information while improving the vocation of public safety service through training, education and networking among police professionals.

A number of Biddeford Police Department officers have previously attended the institute and completed the organization’s Trilogy Program of supervisory leadership, command leadership and executive leadership training.

For this session, four officers from Biddeford participated including Sgt. Philip Greenwood, Sgt. Brian Mills, Sgt. Jeffrey Greene and Lt. Normand Allaire, who also assisted institute instructors and managed logistics for the training.

The institute offered a week of activities geared toward those who aspire to command-level assignments or are new to command responsibilities. Instruction centered on credibility, command discipline and liability, helping personnel overcome problems and becoming agents of change within law enforcement organizations.

Allaire became the first Biddeford officer ever to complete all three Trilogy courses and was recognized for this achievement at the end of the institute session. He is among only four law enforcement professionals to accomplish that since the institute began in 1981.

— Executive Editor Ed Pierce can be contacted at 282-1535, ext. 326, or editor@journaltribune.com.