Lake County sheriff completes national training

After completing a week-long national training program, one local sheriff has returned to work more determined and equipped to do his job than ever.

Lake County Sheriff Don Bell recently participated in the 112th session of the National Sheriffs’ Institute (NSI) held in Aurora, Colorado, April 24-26.

The NSI is a no-cost program co-sponsored by the National Institute of Corrections (NIC) and the National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) and is the only national executive development program designed for sheriffs.

Bell said as a result of the week-long training, he was able to bring back new techniques and goals he intends to implement into both his daily and long-term management of his office.

Those goals, Bell said, include collaborating with local law enforcement and neighboring sheriff’s offices, identifying personalities and strong suits of potential employees in a constant circulation of hiring and retiring employees and leading his deputies by example.

“I make all my deputies wear a bullet-proof vest every day so I wear one too,” Bell said. Unlike many of the sheriff’s Bell said he encountered, he goes into work every day at 5 a.m. dressed in full uniform.

One of Bell’s more specific long-term goals for his department is the implementation of a justice center or detention center for Lake County.

Bell joined 29 other sheriffs from across the nation for training on contemporary challenges facing America’s sheriffs today. The program focused on educating sheriffs on their roles providing local leadership in areas such as public safety, criminal justice system policy, community relations and organization effectiveness and efficiency.

The program limits acceptance to 60 first-term sheriffs nationwide per year. Bell said he applied wanting to gain perspective from a management aspect.

“Sheriff Bell is a leader with vision for the Lake County Sheriff’s Office. It is an honor to have Sheriff Bell join the more than 2,800 graduates of the NSI since 1973,” said Hilary Burgess, NSA Director of Professional Development.

“It was quite an honor,” Bell said. “I was able to pick up new tools that will help me be a better sheriff.”

Reporter Mary Cloud Taylor can be reached at 758-4459 or mtaylor@dailyinterlake.com.