Major Damon Shields of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office used to wonder why officers sent to the FBI National Academy returned with a yellow brick.
This past fall, Shields found out. He received a yellow brick of his own after graduating with 246 other police officers as part of the academy’s 223rd session which ran from Oct. 16 to Dec. 16.
‘As a commander with the Sheriff’s Office, I have signed off approval for at least 10 people to attend the academy. There’s never a right time because of the three month commitment,? said Shields. ‘I knew if I didn’t take advantage now, I’d never do it.?
The 11-week academy is designed to improve administrative and leadership qualities of police commanders while emphasizing physical fitness. Attendees take graduate and undergraduate courses in the areas of law, behavioral science, forensic science, leadership development, communication and physical fitness. Shields said officers were there from all states except South Dakota and included 24 officers from other countries.
The brick now proudly hanging in Shield’s office came as part of the famed ‘Yellow Brick Road? event at the academy. The 10-week FBI fitness challenge (held one day a week) combined a 3.1 mile run and three mile obstacle course testing the physical aptitudes of the officers. According to Shields, each week the training intensified and focused on a set of skills needed to complete the course on the final training day.
‘It’s grueling for young people and for us older people, it was really a challenge for us,? said Shields, a member of the Oakland County Sheriff’s Office for 31 years and Independence Township resident since 1975.
?(The Yellow Brick Road) is about setting a goal and working up to it then getting it done? just like real life.?
Completing the course, which is only for national academy instructors or students, puts Shields in elite company’only one percent of police officers in this country ever attend the Virginia-based school.
According to an article in the Oct. 2002 FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin on-line, the obstacle course earned its name when rocks along the running course were painted yellow so participants could clearly see the path through the wooded trails.
The students face obstacles including a bear trap, barbed wire, cargo nets, walls, creeks and help each other through the tough spots of the winding hilly terrain.
‘The men and women in my session were some of the brightest and most capable commanders I have ever met. The networking alone will save hundreds of hours in problem solving and the FBI instructors are absolutely the best in the business,? said Shields.
Nearly four decades into his career, which included a six year stint as a Detroit Police officer (1969-75), Shields now works as major under Sheriff Michael Bouchard, who appointed him in Aug. 2003.
As major, Shields said he is in charge of law enforcement services excluding corrections. His responsibilities include road patrol, warrant division, crime lab, narcotics, enforcement, all investigative units and the emergency response division. He also handles union issues and litigation involving the office.
‘I wouldn’t trade the job (in law enforcement) for anything. It’s absolutely a fabulous experience. I hope as I look to retirement in the future, that we continue to bring in quality people,? said Shields.
During his 31 years with the department, Shields said he served in nearly every division and under three sheriffs who have all added something to law enforcement in Southeast Michigan.
‘We’ve become more professional and we keep growing by the year and that’s a credit to the police officers who walk the streets serving the citizens,? said Shields.
‘Technology is really moving. There are cameras in every car now and we’ll be embracing a new radio system brought on by 9/11.?
Shields and over 20 other law enforcement officials from Oakland County went to New York City the Friday following the 2001 attacks.
Responding to 9/11 is still a vivid memory for Shields, who credits Bouchard and Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson with helping a trip there happen.
‘The day I went to Ground Zero you could see in (the responders?) eyes they had no rest, but they didn’t want to leave and give up on their brethren there,? said Shields. ‘You could read the pain in their eyes.
‘It’s hard to put into words? A picture I recall is a firefighter on the 10th or 11th floor on an adjacent building to one burning. He was putting water on the fire.?
Going to New York while the city was still a rescue mission, seeing the devastation and experiencing the communication difficulties reinforced Shield’s desire to ensure Oakland County is safe.
‘I don’t know if Oakland County would ever be a target, but due to being close to Detroit we have to be prepared,? said Shields.
As Shields? career moves forward, a tasering incident reflects his zest for the job. While the Sheriff’s office was hosting a group of foreign police officers in Aug. 2003, a volunteer was needed to demonstrate the effects of a taser. Shields stepped forward, having never been tasered before.
‘I wanted the full experience and I got it. It’s extremely painful when it’s going on. It immobilizes you. But afterwards, you’re up and fine and mobile,? said Shields.
‘It’s normally a 1.5 second jolt, but they left if on for five seconds,? he laughed.
According to Shields, the officer selected to do the tasering on the major ‘still has a smile on his face? three years after the fact.
A picture sequence of the tasering, including him lying the ground being tasered and the prongs from the taser that zapped him, are matted and framed hanging in his office.
The framed photos represent a hobby of the major who spends some of his free time matting and framing collectable pictures. Also adorning the wall are a picture of the USS Constitution with an authentic piece of wood from the ship and a picture of a mushroom cloud from an early nuclear test by the United States.
Throughout much of his career Major Damon Shields has been a township resident and loves the area.
‘I joined the department while living in Detroit and fell in love with Independence Township where you can still live on a gravel road,? said Shields. ‘I love the community and wish I had the opportunity to move here sooner.?
He and his wife Sue have been married since 1965 and have three children (all graduates of Clarkston High School) and one grandchild.