The following is a testimonial that our office recently received:

My name is Ernest D. Clevenger, I am the Chief of Police of the Belpre (Ohio) Police Department. I am a thirty-one year veteran of law enforcement in Ohio. I have served with the Belpre Police Department since 1982. I served as a shift supervisor for uniform patrol from 1984 to 2009, when I was promoted to Chief of Police. During my tenure with the Belpre Police Department, I have interviewed and interrogated hundreds of individuals on various crimes and scenarios. I have come to a firm belief that an officerís ability to conduct a successful interview with a suspect is one of most vital and primary activities an officer can perform during any investigation.

Upon assuming the office of Chief of Police, one of my foremost goals was providing training to our officer cadre in techniques of interviewing and interrogation. After researching the topic, I determined that the Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation Course was a viable class of instruction. Though my officers (some with several years of road experience) seemed slightly dubious over the benefits of the course prior to attendance. I make the arrangements and started scheduling officers for the course(s) as they came about near to us and manpower allowed their attendance.

One of my officers who attended the course had been working on a felony case, a week prior to attending the course. He had interviewed the suspect in the case with no luck and the suspect was stonewalling him at every turn. Two day after returning from the course he again scheduled a formal interview with the suspect in the case. In less than 15 minutes he had the suspect confessing on audio/visual tape, and a written confession within the hour. All of my officers that attended the course returned enthusiastic and eager to apply what they had learned. Almost to a man, they had similar results during their interviews with suspects after their training.

Additionally, our standing within the local law enforcement community has risen over the past four years. We are surrounded by other LE agencies that are 2-to 5 times larger than our agency in manpower. But, we are looked upon as true peers in that, when our agency investigates a crime within our jurisdiction, we get results. Our officers are now working with the Multi-Agency Crime Task Force and are well thought of, respected and making a positive effect upon crime in our area.

I credit this in no small amount to be due to having skilled officer interviewers because of the Reid Technique of Interviewing and Interrogation Courses.

I wish to convey my heart-felt appreciation of your expertise and willingness to share your experience and training with my officers and the law enforcement community as a whole. Your efforts in this area make our nation a better place to live. Please continue to provide this instruction to others in the law enforcement community. I consider the Reid Technique training in interviews and interrogation to be a ìgold standardî in the field.

Respectfully,
Ernest Clevenger
Chief of Police