Skip to main content

Leadership Development Program a hit among public safety officials

Like many public safety officials, Todd Seagle had so much going last month that the thought of sitting through three days of leadership development training was a bit overwhelming.





Participants in the Leadership Development Program at Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center (PSTC) included, front row, from left: Todd Doster, PSTC; Nathan Breedlove, Clarks Chapel FD; Gregory Wood, Haywood Sheriff's Office; Wanda Hall, Jackson 911; Tammy Hooper, Sylva PD; Doug Farmer, Sylva PD; Ray Swayney, Cherokee Indian PD; Gene Owl, Cherokee Indian PD; Carla Neadeau, Cherokee Indian PD; George Hornbuckle, Cherokee Indian PD; Tony Carver, Macon County Sheriff's Office; Mike Scheid, NPS; Todd Seagle, Macon 911; Joe Pond, NPS. Back Row (l-r): Mitchell Boudrot, PSTC; J.H. Tankersley, Henderson, PD; Matt Reynolds, PSTC; Lloyd Wolfe, Cherokee PD; Chief Harry Dolan, Seminar Speaker; Don Robertson, Haywood County Sheriff's Office; Eric Oswalt, Cherokee Indian PD; Richard Bryson, Sylva PD; Kent Davis, WCU; Martin Anthony, WCU; Curtis Dowdle, PSTC;  Daryl Martin, Cherokee Indian PD; Jose' Rodriguez, Cherokee Indian PD; Robert Fleming, NPS; Travis Hedden, Haywood EMS; Christopher Letterman, Henderson PD.


“It was one of those where even before it started on Monday (the first day), I was thinking to myself that I might have to leave at noon,” recalled Seagle, who is the communications supervisor for Macon County 911. “But it was so good, I hated when the class was over on Wednesday.”


Seagle was among more than two dozen participants to attend the Leadership Development Program from Aug. 5-7 at Southwestern Community College’s Public Safety Training Center.


Attendees represented agencies from throughout and beyond SCC’s service area of Jackson, Macon, Swain Counties and the Qualla Boundary.


Led by retired Raleigh Police Chief Harry P. Dolan, the program gave participants management and supervisory skills designed to improve organizational effectiveness and morale.


Dolan’s blend of humor and real-life experiences resonated with participants like Seagle, who said the instructor’s advice about implementing a 24-hour rule – waiting a full day to respond after getting angry – was one of many elements he found particularly useful.


“I’ve been a volunteer firefighter for years,” Seagle said. “So between that position and my role here as communications supervisor, I’ve been to a lot of training over the years. This was as good of a training program as I’ve ever attended. Chief Dolan was great, and a lot of what he used was his own content.”


Curtis Dowdle, SCC’s dean of Public Safety Training, said bringing in quality public safety veterans like Chief Dolan helps the college continue to meet the needs of emergency personnel throughout its service area.


“We’re honored that Chief Dolan would come here and share the wisdom he’s gained from so many years as a leader in law enforcement,” Dowdle said. “I had the opportunity to hear several of the sessions he conducted, and he’s very impressive.”


For more information about SCC’s Public Safety Training Center, call 306-7041 or visit http://www.southwesterncc.edu/content/public-safety-training.

For help with the accessibility of this website, please use this form.