By Conrad Dudderar
Associate Editor
Yukon’s top police official has been honored as a lifetime member of two law enforcement organizations.
John Corn, Yukon’s police chief for the past 11 years, started in August 1989 at the Yukon Police Department.
A 34-year veteran, Corn recently achieved lifetime membership status in the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) National Academy.
Twenty-seven years ago, he completed the intensive 3-1/2-month academy – and has been an active member ever since.
For his achievement, the YPD chief received a metal badge, lapel pin and metal membership card etched with his name and membership number – 3191.
Yukon’s police chief also has been recognized as a life member after 20 years with the International Association of Chiefs of Police. He earned a lapel pin with the association’s logo and a certificate for this distinction.
A 1984 Yukon High School graduate, Chief Corn is the son of Yukon’s Leon and Betty Corn.
Corn leads a department with 57 sworn officer positions. He was among 21 officers when he began his career.
30-YEAR-OLD SERGEANT
Chief Corn recalled his enriching experience at the annual FBI National Academy in Quantico, Va. He was a 30-year-old YPD sergeant when he attended in fall 1996.
“It’s great training and the networking is invaluable,” Corn said. “You’re put in an environment to learn all the current practices and all of the issues affecting law enforcement.
“You get to hear input from all across the country – and the national academy has an international footprint. There are 13 partner countries that also send law enforcement professionals to the national academy.”
The YPD has three current FBI National Academy graduates – Deputy Chief John Brown, Maj. Zach Roberson and Chief Corn.
“My goal is to get Maj. (Curtis) Lemmings the opportunity to go before I ever leave the agency,” Corn added.
Retired YPD officers who finished the FBI National Academy include Ike Shirley (former chief), Ron Mathews and Gary Knight.
Most larger Oklahoma law enforcement agencies typically have a strong contingent of FBI National Academy graduates.
“If you get to go, you’ve got to stay active and participate with the state chapter,” Chief Corn opined. “It’s been a big dividend for Yukon PD, and it’s been great for me in my career with the relationships that I’ve built.”
FBI officials seek up-and-coming police department supervisors to attend the national academy who will stay active at their local agencies long-term – and become the next deputy chief or chief.
The FBI has a large office in Oklahoma City.
“All the intel gets generated by all the departments in the state,” Corn pointed out. “We provide manpower and support – and push the data and information so it can be vetted and examined (by the FBI) for credibility and any type of threat or risk assessment.”
LONGTIME IACP MEMBER
Membership in the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) is open to any member of command staff – captains, majors, deputy chiefs, and chiefs – at agencies of all sizes.
“It is the largest organization of law enforcement professionals that represents all the agencies in the United States and all the partnering countries that provide law enforcement functions,” Corn said.
IACP has developed executive research and policy research groups, providing web-based resources for law enforcement agencies across the U.S. and internationally.
Corn was Yukon’s deputy police chief when he joined – nine years before becoming chief.
Deputy Chief Brown also is a member of the IACP.
