Joining the elite ranks of law enforcement
Lampasas PD Assistant Chief Sammy Bailey headed to Virginia's FBI Academy
By LISA CARNLEY Staff Writer

PHOTO BY LISA CARNLEY Sammy Bailey, right, Lampasas assistant chief of police, is set to attend the FBI Academy in March for a 10-week session. She is shown with Phillip Gadd, an FBI supervisory special agent based in Austin.

The ratio of women to men in law enforcement is meager, and that figure narrows further when considering the number of women in the Federal Bureau of Investigation. But their ranks will grow soon with the addition of Lampasas' own Assistant Chief of Police Sammy Bailey.

Ms. Bailey, a law enforcement veteran with nearly a quartercentury of public service to Lampasas, is headed to the FBI National Academy, a renowned training facility in Quantico, Va., for the nation's elite law enforcement officers.

The selection process is rigorous, and in most cases it takes years to be accepted. In Ms. Bailey's case, it entailed seven years of waiting from the time of application.

On the recommendation of Police Chief Tim Angermann, Ms. Bailey began the process.

Her career in law enforcement began in 1984 as a dispatcher for the local Police Department. She attended the Police Academy in 1987, and advanced through the ranks from patrol officer to DARE officer to patrol sergeant, lieutenant and then to assistant chief in 1997.

Ms. Bailey has attained the highest rank for any female police officer in Lampasas' history, and as such, she serves as a role model for many girls and young women.

Statistics show that of the more than 35,000 who have graduated since the academy's inception in 1935, less than 1,300 are women.

"It is such an honor to have been selected to go to the National Academy," she said. "Only a select few do get to attend. I appreciate the support I've gotten from the chief, from City Manager Mike Stoldt, Mayor Judith Hetherly and the City Council for allowing me to attend the academy."

Her 10-week training will extend from March 30 to June 6. She will be expected to pass master's-level courses along with a tough physical training regimen for which she has been preparing.

"I've been walking a lot, running and working out in the gym. I'm even doing some tummy crunches. I think I'll be ready," said the assistant chief.

Mentally, she said, she is ready.

"I'm excited about it. There has been a lot of anticipation on my part. I'm making sure my caseloads are being handled while I'm gone. It should keep [Lt. Investigator] Jody [Cummings] busy," said Ms. Bailey. Cummings will take over the bulk of her duties during her absence.

Other officers have been assigned to handle some tasks as well. "And my daughters will get to do a lot of my personal business while I'm gone," she added.

The road to the academy has been a long one. After paperwork requesting attendance was sent in, Ms. Bailey was surprised one day last June to receive an e-mail advising of her selection. "It had been so long, but the chief was constantly talking with FBI officials. He knows that the department as well as I can really benefit from this program."

The e-mail told Ms. Bailey to get prepared to attend. "I thought it was a notice they sent to all nominees, so I didn't really think much more about it -- until that night. Then I thought about it and wondered why they would send me that e-mail."

Angermann suggested Ms. Bailey put in a call, and it was then she received word of her acceptance.

An extensive background check and medical testing are required to ensure a candidate meets the required criteria.

Interviews with supervisors, co-workers and other employees are conducted, along with a review of the candidate's personnel file and internal affairs file. Criminal checks and fingerprinting also are part of the process.

To qualify, a candidate must be the equivalent of a lieutenant or higher; be in excellent physical condition; have excellent character, integrity and reputation; demonstrate confidence and command respect as a public servant.

The San Antonio area, of which Lampasas is part, is allocated four slots per session (or 16 per year), with three slots set aside annually for Texas Department of Public Safety officers.

More than 100 academy applications each year are processed in San Antonio.

Once the prospective student arrives at the Virginia Marine base, the real work begins.

Ms. Bailey selected several areas of interest to study, though she won't know until just beforehand what classes she has been accepted into. She would like to study forensics and photography, both to bulk up her criminal investigation skills.

"I plan to take management and leadership classes," she said. "That will help me coach and develop other employees, and help the department and community continue to progress into the future."

Phillip M. Gadd, an FBI supervisory special agent from Austin, said Ms. Bailey's selection bodes well for the Lampasas Police Department and the community. "She is a good choice for the program. A department this size can benefit from what Sammy will learn and bring back from the academy. She will be even more of an asset to her department after the academy because of the educational benefits and training she can share with other officers."

Courses offered through the FBI Academy are accredited through the University of Virginia and are taught by experienced agents with graduate degrees. Sessions are held four times each year, with a maximum of 275 officers per session.

Curriculum includes management science/leadership develop- ment, behavioral science, law, education, health/fitness and forensic science.

At the culmination of the academy, graduates will be honored at a ceremony. "They put so much importance on the academy and the training students receive that the director of the FBI will be in attendance for the ceremony," said Gadd.

And graduates travel the "yellow brick road" -- a six-mile obstacle course -- after which they are presented a yellow brick with the number of the National Academy session they attended, as a reminder of their success in mastering the physical, mental and emotional challenges of the 10-week session.

Academy participants are expected to be able to compete with those in their group. "They will have daily physical training and calisthenics," said Gadd.

Though a large part of the training is physical, Gadd added that problem-solving and higher-level thinking also play a part in academy sessions. "Students are broken into small groups and will be given a problem and must work toward a solution together."

While the academy's goal is to enhance the professionalism and abilities of law enforcement leaders, and advance the technical and operational skills of its students, Ms. Bailey's aspiration is to bring a renewed enthusiasm to her department and assist fellow officers through the many networking opportunities she will have acquired during her training."

She will have access to free legal advice from other FBI agents, as well as other bureau resources. She also will receive updates on a number of legal issues and the opportunity to attend state and national training conferences.

"I am ready for this," said the assistant police chief. "I think there will be numerous challenges ahead, but what I can bring back to my job is worth everything I will put into it. It's been my desire for a long time to go. I think it will make me a more effective leader, and I am ready for the challenges."