The FBI National Academy Inc. has formed an exclusive corporate partnership with The Response Network to provide FBINAA members with cost-effective online in-service training, according to the academy.

"The mission of the FBI National Academy is to provide its membership with opportunities for continuing education, training, and professional development in law enforcement disciplines that will promote improved leadership, cooperation, services, efficiencies, and higher standards of professional conduct," according to Kim Derry, president of FBI National Academy Associates Inc.

The FBINAA has begun offering its members the opportunity to take The Response Network's current series of nine online in-service courses, which are available at The Response Network's online training portal PoliceCommunity.net. At the same time, the FBINAA will work with The Response Network offering insight and suggestions on future course development, according to Steve Tidwell, executive director of FBINAA.

"Law enforcement agencies around the world are being challenged to find new ways to maintain the highest levels of preparedness in the face of ever shrinking training budgets," Tidwell added. "The Response Network's distance learning platform offers a way to do this and we are pleased to be able to offer it to our membership."

The partnership is the first for the FBINAA for online in-service training. The academy offers training through traditional colleges and universities such as American Military University, Bellevue University, Boston University, Capella University, Kaplan University, Long Island University, TUI, St. Leo University, Salve Regina, University of Oklahoma, Upper Iowa University, and Strayer University. 

PoliceCommunity.net's Learning Management System (LMS) portal offers online courses with lesson plans from subject matter experts, an easy-to-use platform, and in the near future the ability for agencies to tailor a custom program to their specific policies.

An officer subscriber can access any course for $74.95 per year. Courses provide assessments and automatic updates to superiors and training directors. 

"We are proud to become an important part of the FBI National Academy Associate's long-term online in-service training solution," according to Bradley Naples, president and CEO of the Response Network. "PoliceCommunity.net provides a value proposition that is gaining the support of state and local law enforcement agencies and POSTS around the country and the world."

The Response Network's PoliceCommunity.net has also been endorsed by the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Association of Public Safety-Communications Professionals (APCO).

Headquartered in Quantico, Va., the FBI National Academy Associates is a private, non-profit organization with 18,000 members.