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SHELBY TOWNSHIP — On Sept. 14, Shelby Township Police Lt. Jeffrey Bellomo graduated as a member of the 287th session of the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia.
In a press release, the Shelby Township Police Department said the academy is “internationally known for its academic excellence” and that its participants have 10 weeks of communication, leadership and fitness training. Fewer than 1% of police officers get the opportunity to attend the program, according to the township, and on average those who do get to attend have 21 years of law enforcement experience and are leaders of their departments.
Bellomo said this is his 24th year in law enforcement.
“I was hired by the Shelby Township Police Department in September of 2002. Prior to that I served two years with the Detroit Police Department at the 9th Precinct. I grew up in Warren, Michigan, and graduated from Saint Clement High School in Center Line. After high school I attended Michigan State University. I later graduated from Central Michigan University with a Master of Science Degree in Administration. I also graduated from Northwestern University’s School of Police staff and Command, Class 411,” he said.
Bellomo said attending the FBI National Academy was always one of his biggest career goals and he was thrilled in March when he was told that he was endorsed by Shelby Township Police Chief Robert Shelide and that the FBI had accepted him into its upcoming class.
He said his 10 weeks at the FBI National Academy was filled with many ups and some downs.
“It was an amazing experience — one that I will cherish the rest of my life; however, it was also at times long and difficult. The academics and the physical training for me were not the problem. Besides a physical injury of broken ribs that I had to push through, it was primarily lifestyle issues that were the biggest challenge. I wasn’t a big fan of dorm life at 18 years old at Michigan State University, and needless to say, the feeling had not changed at my current age. The dorm rooms are very small, the mattresses are like concrete and you share a room with a roommate. You also share a bathroom with two other men in a joining room,” he said in an email interview.
He said leaving his family and friends for that long has been one of the hardest things he has had to do.
“Like the saying goes, ‘You don’t really understand what you truly have until it’s gone.’ I was very grateful and thankful for what I have when I got home,” he said.
He said that now that’s it over, he thinks it was the difficulty that made the experience great.
“In the end, the FBI National Academy has made me a better, stronger person and given me the desire to want to be my best for my department. Finally, I would like to give a special thanks to Chief Robert Shelide and Deputy Chief Jason Schmittler for having the belief and confidence to send me to this incredible opportunity. It was my honor and privilege to represent the people of Shelby Township and the men and women of the Shelby Township Police Department by being a graduate of the FBI National Academy’s 287th Session,” he said.
Shelby Township Police Capt. Patrick Barnard was the last member of department to graduate from the FBI National Academy. That was in 2019.
Shelide commented on Bellomo in a prepared statement.
“Congratulations to Lt. Bellomo on his graduation from the FBI National Academy and his dedication to executive level leadership training. Shelby Township remains committed to ongoing training and education of our officers and command level staff,” he said.
