St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff Mike Tregre is fond of saying, “iron sharpens iron” in reference to the positive impact that strong leaders have on others. Perhaps the manifestation of that proverb could not be more evident than among Sheriff Tregre’s own agency which includes the leaders of two very prestigious organizations.
Capt. Chip Wale, SJSO Training Division Commander, is president of the FBI National Academy Associates Louisiana Chapter and Detective Lieutenant Michael Shard, Financial Crimes Supervisor in the Criminal Investigations Division, recently completed his term as the 2024-25 president of the Louisiana Forgery and Fraud Investigators Association.
Lt. Shard completed his term in April by hosting the LFFIA’s annual conference in LaPlace which included more than 80 participants from across the U.S. and Canada.
“I could not be more proud to know that officers from my department were selected to lead these two important and prestigious organizations,” Sheriff Tregre said. “Capt. Wale and Lt. Shard have shown themselves to be knowledgeable, progressive leaders who represent the St. John Parish Sheriff’s Office and St. John Parish well.”
Capt. Wale and Lt. Shard attribute their success to Sheriff Tregre’s leadership and his systematic support of officers being afforded training opportunities and his insistence on providing them with the resources needed to be their best.
“Sheriff Tregre is a transformational leader who believes in his people and gives them the tools to succeed,” Capt. Wale said. “The Sheriff has given me opportunities to attend leadership schools, responsibilities that have shaped my leadership style, and empowered me to make decisions that will benefit our agency and the people of St. John Parish.”
The FBI National Academy Associates, Inc is a non-profit, international organization of more than 14,000 senior law enforcement professionals. Members are graduates of the FBI’s prestigious National Academy Program, representing all 50 states, 176 countries and over 10,000 law enforcement agencies.
In April, Capt. Wale was sworn in by Sheriff Tregre as president of the Louisiana Chapter of FBINAA, which has over 300 members who are sheriffs, police chiefs and senior law enforcement leaders throughout the state of Louisiana.
The Louisiana Forgery and Fraud Investigators Association is a collaborative force uniting law enforcement, the banking sector, and private entities to combat financial crimes. The LFFIA also hosts annual training conferences to keep members informed about the latest trends in this field.
Lt. Shard was selected as the 2024-25 LAFFIA president and was in charge of hosting the 2025 conference as one of his final official duties as LAFFIA president.
Lt. Shard says an important lesson he’s learned while working at the St. John Sheriff’s Office is the significance of collaboration.
“I have been given the chance to lead initiatives, collaborate with diverse teams, and solve complex problems which helped me develop key skills that are essential for a leader,” Lt. Shard said. “Being in a leadership role means not only making decisions, but also empowering others to do their best work.”
A foundational principle of Sheriff Tregre’s leadership can be found in a quote attributed to management thought leader Tom Peters: “Leaders don’t create followers, they create more leaders.”
Capt. Wale and Lt. Shard’s ascension to the top leadership position in their respective organizations is a testament to Sheriff Tregre’s embrace and execution of this management principle.
“Sheriff Tregre is a transformative leader whose vision has helped to shape my own. He is a steady pillar that provides enrichment and support for SJSO to ensure its continued growth and impact in the community,” Lt. Shard said. “These traits have helped me to become better prepared in my current role. It has also helped me while I was the LAFFIA 2024-2025 President.”