If you follow DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner on any social media platform, you probably figured out earlier this spring he was doing something a little out of the ordinary.

A test of body and mind is how DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner describes an intense 10-week training at the FBI Academy in Quantico, Virginia. The Sheriff says it was a great experience that helped him sharpen his skills, coming away with new and exciting ideas.

The Academy featured 200-plus law enforcement adminstrators together along with over 25 countries represented. The Sheriff calls it the most 'phenomenal learning experience' of his professional career.

The Sheriff explains two of the bigger takeaways from the training was the focus on taking care of themselves as leaders and community servants, but also make sure they are doing things to take care of their families. He says that was one thing he did not expect. Sheriff Shofner also says they discussed taking care of a community's law enforcement officers.

There was a physical portion of the training as well. According to the Sheriff, he had to pass a physical test to get there, he had to pass that same test when he got there, and then pass 10 physical challenges while he was there. Sheriff Shofner credits the Clinton YMCA for helping keep him in shape.

Picture Right: DeWitt County Sheriff Jered Shofner with the Yellow Brick he earned through physical training portion of FBI Academy.

Service to the community is the start of what the Sheriff wants to do coming home from the academy. Sheriff Shofner says this is a challenging time for law enforcement officials and he says they are going to look at taking better care of law enforcement officers and first responders.

The Sheriff says most of the leaders he talked with and befriended are facing similar challenges to DeWitt County.