By Staff Reporter | June 6, 2025 | Placerville, CA
The El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office (EDSO) announced two significant achievements this week, as Lieutenant Palmberg and Sergeant Hamon completed nationally and statewide recognized leadership training programs designed to prepare the next generation of law enforcement leaders.
On June 5, 2025, Lt. Palmberg graduated from the 294th session of the FBI National Academy, an elite 10-week residential program held in Quantico, Virginia. The program, established in 1935, brings together law enforcement leaders from across the United States and over 150 international partners to promote professionalism, physical fitness, academic rigor, and collaboration.
Lt. Palmberg completed 18 semester hours of coursework through the University of Virginia, covering topics such as law enforcement leadership, behavioral science, and ethics. He also took part in daily physical fitness classes and concluded his training by completing the “Yellow Brick Road”—a rigorous 6.1-mile obstacle course designed by the U.S. Marine Corps.
“Completing the Yellow Brick Road is more than just a physical challenge—it’s a symbol of resilience and readiness,”
Lt. Palmberg said.
“The academy was a powerful reminder that leadership in law enforcement must be built on education, fitness, and shared solutions.”
During the program, Lt. Palmberg also participated in peer networking sessions, which are foundational to the academy’s mission of enhancing interagency cooperation. The sessions reflect the guiding philosophy of FBI founder J. Edgar Hoover:
“The most effective weapon against crime is cooperation.”
In addition to Lt. Palmberg’s achievement, EDSO also celebrated Sergeant Hamon’s graduation from the California POST Sherman Block Supervisory Leadership Institute (SLI). SLI is an eight-month intensive training program designed to enhance supervisory skills and foster ethical, community-focused leadership.
The course, facilitated by seasoned law enforcement mentors, brings together supervisors from agencies throughout California to explore solutions to common leadership challenges. Sgt. Hamon’s successful completion of this program highlights EDSO’s ongoing commitment to what it calls
“Total Professionalism through training and by example.”
“Training like this ensures our leaders are not just capable administrators, but thoughtful stewards of both their teams and their communities,”
said El Dorado County Sheriff Jeff Leikauf in a written statement.
These dual milestones underscore the department’s focus on professional development as a core strategy for building public trust and effective law enforcement in El Dorado County.
