ABOUT TOWN: Stoughton’s Police Chief Paul Shastany a Standout Student at FBI Academy

POLICE CHIEF GETS SPECIAL HONOR: About Town has learned that Stoughton Police Chief Paul Shastany has been elected as a Section Leader at The FBI National Academy at Quantico, VA.

Shastany was unanimously elected as one of six Section Leaders representing the 260 law enforcement officials attending the 10-week training session.

What's the odds? The Chief already stood tall as one of less than 1/2 of 1% of law enforcement officials who ever get asked to attend in the first place. Then, he's selected as one of six to represent the 260 attendees.

In addition, after the six made their required presentations to all those gathered, Shastany was nearly elected Valedictorian of his class. He was edged out by one of Canada's top law enforcement officers, Superintendent Pat Dietrich of Waterloo Regional Police Services .

Section Leaders get six tickets to the graduation ceremony, and a private session with FBI Director Robert Mueller. Shastany was proud to be representing Stoughton at Quantico and said that "The competition worldwide is great. If there's any doubters, hopefully they believe now in what we're trying to do in our department."

Shastany, whose department was the first in the nation to place QR Codes on police vehicles, said that photos from the Stoughton Police Department are being utilized in an FBI Academy class in "Managing Organizational Change."

"The FBI really loves the Stoughton Police Department," Shastany told me. He's hoping for support from Town Meeting for his budget requests that allow the department to achieve the many goals he has set out to accomplish, including Accreditation. 

Chief Shastany gave the following update Monday on the Stoughton Police Department’s Facebook page:

Quantico update: the Academic workload is crazy here! There is very little down time here. I have one paper and three presentations left. No complaints here though! There are over 260 Law Enforcement Executives here in Session 248. They are broken into 6 sections. I was honored and humbled to be nominated and elected to represent my section (2). As the representative of a section, the 6 representatives were required to speak to the entire session and staff. I was almost elected class president. My friend from Canada will be giving the valedictorian speech. He is an incredible man! The 6 of us will have a private reception with FBI Director Robert Mueller at graduation. This is a huge honor. I am proud to say that "Stoughton" is front and center as a progressive agency. The credit belongs to the hard working men and women of the dept., and, the support from our community! That means you! We have more difficult PT challenges ahead. Wednesday is "the Winged Monkey" circuit. Thirty minutes of exhausting circuits. Everybody is hanging together as a team and we inspire each other to push beyond our limits. One student, Tarek, (no last name, for security reasons) a Colonel from the Egyptian Police, is leadership personified. I am lucky to call him my friend. Anyway, I look forward to returning to class tomorrow. Until then, stay safe and keep smiling! Paul

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COPS & FIREFIGHTERS PUCKING AROUND: Speaking of the police department, a hockey game between the Stoughton Police Department and the Stoughton Fire Department will take place at the Ponkapoag Ice Rink, on Rt. 138 in Canton on Saturday, February 25, 2012 at 7 p.m. At 8 p.m., Canton will square off against Braintree. All donations will go toward the Fisher House for returning veterans.

But, of course, all eyes are on the Annual “Guns and Hoses Game” on March 24, 2012 at 5:20 p.m. at Asiaf Arena in Brockton (adjacent to Brockton High School off Rt. 123 in Brockton).  As always, all money raised in this game will go to benefit the Friends of Stoughton Hockey (FOSH).  Dress warm. We'll see you there! 

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HAPPY BIRTHDAY to: Stoughton's Christine Woodard, owner of Cassie's Corner Store. She and her husband Matt have volunteered for local athletic organizations in town.  

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