CHATTANOOGA-Newport Chief of Police J. Maurice Shults graduated the South Eastern Command and Leadership Academy on March 5 in Chattanooga.

The South Eastern Command and Leadership Academy is offered by the University of Tennessee Law Enforcement Innovation Center. The SECLA classes are offered through the University of Tennessee Chattanooga. The class material is studied both on campus and through distance learning. The SECLA curriculum is studied over the course of nine months.

The South Eastern Command and Leadership Academy strives to develop innovators and leaders by preparing mid-level and senior level police supervisors to lead a law enforcement agency. SECLA enhances skills, knowledge and abilities of current law enforcement commanders and challenges them with critical thinking and problem -solving activities.

SECLA utilizes adult learning principles in the delivery of instruction, combines traditional classroom instruction with purposeful teaching activities such as case studies, small group sessions, critical thinking and problem solving. Class members are actively engaged rather than passively participating in the learning experience.

Class members are provided the optimum learning experience with the maximum retention of course materials. Members, of the 9th Session of SECLA, consisted of representatives of agencies with six sworn officers to an agency of twenty two hundred sworn officers.

Chief Shults was elected class secretary by the members of the 9th Session of SECLA. The duties of the class secretary include taking minutes or notes at all class meetings, collecting all class dues or fees, and making any class purchases. The secretary is also responsible for all class communications during and after the class sessions.

During the graduation ceremonies at the Chattanoogan Hotel Chief Shults was awarded the LEIC Innovator Award. The award honors the outstanding innovator of each SECLA Class.

Class members are asked to elect the individual who excels as an innovator in the session according to the following guidelines: Inventiveness (finding new ways to solve old problems, ability to utilize technology in problem solving, Successful launching a new program or policy as a result of attending SECLA. Chief Shults' guests at the graduation ceremony included his wife Debbie Shults, son Joshyua Shults, daughter and son-in-law Angie and Bill Templin and grandson Caleb Barnes.

"I am honored to have had the opportunity to study with such a diverse and talented group of Police and Sheriff's command staff members," said Shults. "I am humbled by confidence placed in me by my classmates. This is by far the most intense training I have been able to attend during my career.

"I was fortunate to be awarded a scholarship from the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police. I hope to use the 12 college credits that I earned toward the completion of a criminal justice degree."

On March 8, a reception was held at the Newport Police Department to honor Chief Shults for his hard work and dedication for this well deserved achievement.