Lance Burris served twenty-three (23) years with the Hobart Police Department and specialized in investigations prior to joining the staff at the Indiana Law Enforcement Academy in March of 1993. While with the Hobart Police Department, Lieutenant Burris spent ten (10) years in the patrol division and thirteen (13) years in the detective bureau, retiring as Chief of Detectives. During his law enforcement career, Lieutenant Burris received numerous citations, awards and commendations from his department, local departments, the community, and the FBI; including bravery and Purple Heart citations.
Prior to entering law enforcement Lieutenant Burris completed a tour of duty in the U.S. Army in Korea. He is a veteran with the 101st Airborne Division and the Nike Ajax Missile Command.
Lieutenant Burris retired from the police department in June 1988 and worked from 1988 to 1993 as an investigator for the Indiana Attorney General’s Office and in the private sector as an internal theft investigator conducting safety and security audits for a nationwide corporation.
A graduate of the 187th Session of the FBI National Academy and the Police Chief’s Executive Training Program. Lieutenant Burris has also attended Indiana University Northwest, University of Louisville, University of Virginia and St Joseph College with his primary focus on Criminal Justice. Lieutenant Burris is the recipient of the Office of the Governor’s “Distinguished Hoosier” Award and is also a published author.
At the Academy, Lieutenant Burris has held various responsibilities and presently; the Officer in Charge (OIC) of “Criminal Investigation” for the Basic, Tier I Course, Instructor Development, approves training entities who seek to train Indiana Police Officers, Academy Director of Security, conducts internal/external investigations and background investigations for Academy employment.