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Lieutenant Jeremy A. Marvin will soon join law enforcement professionals from across the state in a leadership academy aimed at broadening and enhancing the management and leadership skills of Alabama’s public safety agencies.

Marvin is the Lowndes County Sheriff’s Administrative Division Commander, a role which allows him to serve citizens by overseeing the “nuts and bolts” of the department’s operations. According to Sheriff Chris West, participation in the academy is an honor that will enhance the commander’s leadership skills and abilities.

“It helps to promote leadership skill sets, like how to put together a team that’s cohesive,” West said. “It helps establish a vision for where the vision or agency is now versus where we would like to see it five or 10 years down the road. The academy teaches commanders how to put together a team that shares the vision and objectives, how to delegate and remove barricades to the success of the department.”

Officers are selected for the academy by application process and scored by a points system. Selection is based on work-related discipline, score, size of agency, status of agency, involvement in other areas and an essay composition.

Accepted students meet monthly from September to May, to focus on topics like the definition of leadership, public finance and budgeting, media relations, ethics, strategic management and others.

“This is a year-long academy, the state equivalent to the FBI Academy,” Marvin said. “It’s composed of public safety leaders from all over the state. Not everybody gets to do it, so I’m really excited about the opportunity.”

Marvin said the training will enhance his ability to lead within the agency, a benefit that will profit Lowndes County citizens.

“It helps in every way possible,” Marvin said. “Lowndes County has so much potential. Making oneself better creates a better way for the agency to serve and interact with the citizens. 

“I prefer to interact with citizens on a personal level, to approach them as a friend. Learning better people skills helps that.”

As commander of the administrative division, Marvin recognizes his role in ensuring the agency runs smoothly by paying bills, purchasing uniforms, completing audits and other behind the scenes tasks.

“There are things that go on behind the scenes that keep the agency running,” Marvin said. “Aside from the patrol deputies people see, there are things that go on, like civil processes. The leadership academy helps bring fresh ideas to the agency, better ways of doing things to keep the agency running efficiently and accurately.”

Marvin will begin the academy in September, attending a class titled, “What is leadership.” Upon completion of the academy, he will graduate in May.