As the police chief of Bow, Jeff Jaran’s duties are to lead and teach those in his department.

For three months in 2007, however, the teacher once again became the student as Jaran attended the FBI’s National Academy, which gives senior executive officers a chance to learn new techniques and meet others in the field.

The elite course, which took place in Virginia, included courses in law, behavioral science, forensic science, leadership development, communication, and health/fitness. Only onetenth of 1 percent of police personnel in the country is accepted into the program.

One of the biggest benefits of the course is networking with other officers, said Jaran.

“My class was the largest (about 300 students) in history with officers from all over the world. You get the chance to exchange thoughts and ideas,” he said. “The courses were worthwhile and difficult, but I feel you learn most through the networking. There are some really brilliant minds and learned more through that than in the classroom a lot of the time.”

Jaran said he spent September through December learning new mental as well as new physical approaches to the field.

“It’s not only academics, but it’s fitness as well,” he said.

“The pinnacle was a 6.8-mile run, which included the Marine officers obstacle course. It was challenging, but rewarding to do at age 43. I thought I was in good shape, but I came out in even better shape.”

While he was attending the course, Jaran was forced to follow the daily activity of Bow through his laptop and over the phone.

Jaran said he now knows that no matter what incident he is faced with in Bow, he has someone who has likely dealt with the same thing he can turn to.

“I now have the ability to pick up the phone when there are problems. I have people I can call around the world. There isn’t a problem we’ll have that someone hasn’t run into around the world,” he said. “I’m a graduate and alumni, and have the ability to reach out to them. It’s a huge resource. That will pay huge dividends.”

The chief now brings some of the new aspects of physical training back to Bow.

“What we’ve tried to do since I’ve been here is to raise our level of training. We’re trying to be a leader in the area and the state putting out highly trained officers,” said Jaran. “I’d be a hypocrite if I wasn’t doing my best to get better as well.”

Despite the variety of benefits from the program, Jaran is somewhat relieved the physically demanding program has concluded.

“I was honored to be selected and very happy I graduated,” he said. “Would I want to do it again? Probably not.”