Fife police outline 25-week leadership certificate, seek local cohort and tuition partnership

Fife Police Chief Fisher and Assistant Chief Newman told the Fife City Council on April 8 that the department is pursuing a local, credit-bearing leadership certificate program to expand promotion-from-within and training options for sworn and civilian staff.

The proposal centers on a 25-week, cohort-style certificate offered by the University of Charleston that would meet one evening per week. Assistant Chief Newman said the program is designed to produce credits that transfer into a bachelor’s or graduate track: “The maximum transferable credits is 90 credits,” he said, noting the school’s 120-credit bachelor’s requirement. Newman also read the department’s advertised minimums for command positions: “Minimum requirements include bachelor's degree in criminal justice, public administration, or related field with a graduate degree preferred,” language he said appears in the job announcement for the assistant chief position.

Why it matters: department leaders framed the effort as part of…