St. Cloud Police Department Capt. Denise Roberts has graduated from the FBI’s National Academy, a prestigious 10-week program that provides advanced training to law enforcement leaders from around the world.
While current SCPD Chief Douglas Goerke and former Chief Pete Gauntlett also went through the FBI program, Roberts, who has been with SCPD for 22 years now, is the first home-grown member of SCPD to complete the training.
The FBI National Academy is held at the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va., where Roberts was for 10 weeks. It is a highly competitive, executive-level program that is only open to law enforcement officers who have been nominated by their agencies. Goerke said he was happy to nominate Roberts.
“I am proud of Captain Roberts for her accomplishment. She is a dedicated and hard-working officer who is committed to serving the community,” Goerke said. “Her graduation from the FBI National Academy is a testament to her dedication and her commitment to excellence.”
Roberts said she had submitted an application to the program in the past, and got her acceptance letter for the 286th Academy program on Jan. 19 — her daughter’s birthday. It meant reporting to Quantico on March 31, and staying through June 8, with a weekend off to return home for her daughter’s middle school graduation.
“I’m so blessed and lucky to have great leadership, and I’m thankful that the department and the people who I work with filled in and allowed me to make this happen,” Roberts said.
“Only 1 percent of those who apply get accepted, so this has been a career goal.”
Her class of 238 law enforcement officers— including 22 females— came from 25 countries, five military organizations and six federal civilian outfits.
Roberts’ classes were in critical incident leadership, conflict resolution, police and media relations contemporary issues, crisis negotiation, forensic science and fitness. As part of the fitness class, Roberts had to negotiate a 6.1-mile obstacle course, for which she earned a commemorative — and special — Yellow Brick.
“That was one of the highlights,” she said of her symbolic run down the Yellow Brick Road. “It challenged me physically and mentally, pushing me to new limits and inspiring personal growth that I never thought possible.
She said she’s excited to bring her new executive-level training tools learned from other agencies back to St. Cloud.
“I can’t want to apply these and hopefully make St. Cloud safer, and advocate to our other captains,” she said.
During her over two decades of SCPD service, Roberts has been a patrol officer, sergeant, detective, and has risen through the ranks. She now serves as Investigative Services Division Captain. She is a unique representative for St. Cloud Police as a female, Latina— and a cancer survivor after being diagnosed and beating breast cancer 10 years ago.
“It’s huge for St. Cloud Police to have representation on a federal level, and puts St. Cloud on the map,” she said. “I’m grateful to be able to advocate for our agency.”
