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Officer followed in his father's footsteps in U.K. Continued from page 7 11 · Wednesday, February 13, 2013 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com "I brought back three copies of this book and I don't even know who has them right now," he said, adding he doesn't expect to get them back because the book is such a great tool. "Stress is the biggest thing we face (as officers). "This book offers brilliant insight into it... why officers become insular over time. "Every police officer I've told to read this book has said `Wow this is unbelievable,'" said Perkins. Other speakers the officer said he found motivational were two Vietnam prisoners of war (POWs). Perkins also heard Michael Durant, the American pilot who was held prisoner for 11 days in Somalia, and made famous by the movie Black Hawk Down. Perkins said another speaker shared his story of being shot in the face and blinded -- and in subsequent years, how the man's daughter and son both died in separate incidents. "He was extremely humbling, it really makes you focus on the importance of loved ones, family and resiliency," said Perkins, who spent a lot of his career in uniform patrol, where as a motorcycle enthusiast, he had a personal interest in traffic. Law enforcement agencies consider it a career pinnacle to graduate from the exclusive FBI Academy, and Perkins said he joins "It was a long time away, but very beneficial and it made me see how lucky we are in Canada." Chris Perkins, superintendent, Halton Regional Police some 46,000 graduates since the academy had its beginnings in 1935. Located on a Marine Corps base in Virginia, Perkins said the facility itself was like that of a university, complete with shared dorm rooms, and a cafeteria buffet for three meals a day. All registrants of the academy were issued standard green khaki clothing. Only on graduation day did they get to wear their own clothing -- a dress suit. "I definitely got a better idea of what they (FBI) do and how they do it," he said. "It was a long time away, but very beneficial and it made me see how lucky we are in Canada," said Perkins, who added there were plenty of laughs to go with the learning. "Wednesday nights (in addition to guest speakers) were karaoke night," he laughed. "Even over 10 weeks, the singing didn't get any better." Perkins said he heard firsthand how many American agencies have top brass elected and the issues surrounding politics and policing. "The politics surrounding that... with police knocking on doors (for votes), it's abhorrent. "It's very odd -- we're so lucky." As much as the classroom study was motivational, Perkins said he found the physical fitness challenging as well. Although he said he was in good shape heading down to the academy, he admitted he's in better shape now. He also has a bright yellow brick in his office to show for his efforts. It is a symbol to all those law enforcement officers who've had an opportunity to cross the finish line of a 6.1-mile gruelling run through a hilly, wooded trail built by the U.S. Marines. Along the way, runners must climb over walls, run through creeks, scale rock faces and crawl under barbed wire in muddy water, among other obstacles. The course became known as the yellow brick road, when Marines placed yellow bricks at various spots to show runners the way to go through the wooded trail. Each finisher receives a yellow brick. S 2013 GOLF & IN STOCK OR F AVAILABLE TE IMMEDIA DELIVERY · 18 GOLF TDI WAGONS 56 GOLF ANYONE? SWING BY AND SEE WHAT'S NEW... · 7 GOLF GAS WAGONS Golf Season Now Open at Oakville VW · 8 GOLF GTIS · 6 GOLF 3 DOOR TRENDLINES INCLUDED Y IN WITH EVER ASE... CH STOCK PUR AT PIPERS EES 2 GREEN F THE 2013 HEATH FOR ** SEASON. · 7 GOLF TDI 5 DOORS · 10 GOLF 5 DOORS MANAGER'S SPECIAL Golf 3 door Trendline (Stock #16418) 5 speed transmission plus Cold Weather Package* CELEBRATE vw.ca · MSRP including freight, pre delivery, air tax, Ontario Tire Stewardship fee $21,779 · Plus applicable taxes, licence fee and administration fee · Zero down, bi weekly payment of $149, based on APR of 5.04%, 96 months, total cost of borrowing over term $5502.32 **Includes cart, taxes, and range privileges.Value $238.00, valid with in stock purchases until March 31, 2013