Maj. Edwin C. Roessler Jr. is in the midst of his 20th year with the Fairfax County Police Department. Last year, he was handed the reigns to the county’s police academy and has since been bringing it into the 21st century as he introduces technology-based methods of delivering lesson plans.
What changes have you brought to the academy?
We’ve formed a training advisory committee to make sure we’re delivering the type of training our clients want. [The academy trains county police, sheriffs and fire marshals, among others]. We’ve also instituted e-learning, sending material over the Internet. For example, officers have to go through state-mandated cultural diversity training. That means 2,000 people would have to come to the academy for an eight-hour training. But with the e-learning, we can send the lessons out via e-mail and the officers can do the training during down times during their shifts. If they get a call for service, they can drop the lesson and pick up where they left off later. It’s saving thousands of dollars.
What are the key lessons taught at the academy?
Overriding everything is their safety, the need for them to get home safely to their families. They’re taught to work as a team with each other and their community. They’re taught the essence of community policing, the idea that you get involved with your community to problem solve, develop solutions and think outside the box.
What’s the most difficult aspect of your job?
I enjoy my job. I like that I’m always being challenged and we challenge ourselves to review policies and meet current trends. I enjoy working with dedicated people who want to make changes. I don’t see anything as difficult when there’s always good people to work with.
What brought you to police work?
Public service runs in my family. My father and grandfather were in the New York Fire Department and I had cousins in law enforcement. I knew out of high school what I wanted to do. I focused on justice studies at Arizona State University and spent a year with the New York Department of Investigations. I came to Fairfax because it has an excellent reputation.
