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OTTUMWA, IOWA -- Members of the Ottumwa Police Department, along with other law enforcement agencies took part in a two day course starting Thursday, focusing on leadership.

Law Enforcement officers from around southeast Iowa gathered at Indian Hills Community College Thursday, participating in an annual leadership class.

"Most law enforcement supervisors have had some basic supervision training, but this is the next step in that voyage," said Randy Means, who is the instructor of the program.

Means, who is recognized nationally for his work in law enforcement, has been mentioned by the Wall Street Journal and CBS' 60 Minutes for his work.

"This program is about accountability to standards. It is about organizational integrity. It is about all of the roles and responsibilities that supervisors and managers have in regard to ensuring that police work is going the way it is supposed to go," Means said.

For communities like Ottumwa, this training is critical.

"Randy teaches for the major departments across the country; so for him to come to a small agency like Ottumwa and southeast Iowa, we really feel fortunate to have him here," said Lt. Tom McAndrew of the Ottumwa Police Department.

McAndrew believes that when his officers go through the training, it only benefits the community.

"I want our officers to take this training home with them and apply it to the job and basically increase the professionalism of our department," McAndrew said.

Other agencies participating in the course included the Iowa State Patrol as well as members from Ottumwa's Job Corps Center.

In total, nine agencies participated in the program.