McHenry Co. sheriff's head investigator completes FBI training

The next time a tough case stumps the McHenry County Sheriff's top detective, a world of help - from New York to California and from Europe to the Middle East - literally is a phone call away.

A worldwide network of fellow law enforcement sources is one of the many crime-fighting tools Lt. Andrew Zinke brought home last month when the 20-year sheriff's veteran completed the FBI National Academy, a prestigious 10-week training program for selected police officers from around the globe.

Zinke, who heads the sheriff's criminal investigations division, graduated from the program Dec. 11 and is now back on the job, hoping to put what he learned to good use.

"It was a great experience," he said. "And the best part about it is the networking we were able to do with police from around the world."

The 267-member class in which Zinke graduated included law enforcement officials from 49 states and 27 countries. It's a group whose members Zinke said he can call upon when their expertise can help solve a case or problem in McHenry County.

"The whole idea behind (the academy) is to get law enforcement from around the country, and around the world, together to share information and share ideas," he said.

Besides networking with other officers, Zinke spent his time in the program held at the U.S. Marine Corps Base in Quantico, Va., taking six college-level courses accredited through the University of Virginia in subjects including statement analysis, media relations and prison gangs. The program also includes an intensive physical fitness program required of all students.

Zinke is the eighth member of the sheriff's department to pass through the program, joining a group that includes Sheriff Keith Nygren, Undersheriff Gene Lowery and Lt. Donald Carlson, his predecessor as head of criminal investigations. The FBI covers all the costs of the program except for participants' salaries.

Nygren said it is a worthwhile investment for his department.

"There is no better leadership training for law enforcement," he said. "So it makes good sense for the department and good sense for the individual officers."