Blue Lights College

Were making you the best you can be. A nuisance call saw Captain Gilbert responding to an Apex teen skateboarding at his home. I told him he couldnt skate in his own driveway. That frustrated me and it frustrated him. He asked me, Where am I supposed to skate? I said, I dont know, but you have to figure it out. When I rode away that didnt sit well... with me. So I drove back to his house and I told him, were going to work on this project together, said Gilbert. After much discussion over pizza, Jacques and a group of local skateboarders came up with a solution: Apex needed a skatepark. Two years later, the Rodgers Family Skate Plaza is bustling with passionate teens sharing their skills and bonding over the board. In fact, in 2015, Jacques was recognized as a Champion for Change at the White House for positively connecting law enforcement with the community. Humbled and inspired by the impact his actions had on the community, Jacques wasnt ready to stop there. Identifying the need to nourish positive connections between the community and police, and recognizing that our police force currently struggles with the humanity of law enforcement, he engineered a program determined to train new police officers to respond to conflict with compassion and respect. This is Blue Lights College. You are the solution. Jacques Gilbert served with the Apex Police Department for 29 years, retiring at the rank of captain. In addition to graduating in the 220th FBI National Academy, he has written three books, is a certified personal trainer, and is the CEO of TheVine919. In 2015, Jacques was recognized by President Obama as a Champion for Change due to his work with the Rodgers Family Skate Plaza in downtown Apex, and he was also recognized by the city with the Community Service Award. And in 2016, Jacques was awarded Citizen of the Year by the Apex Chamber of Commerce. On November 5, 2019, Jacques was elected as Mayor for Town of Apex. Jacques is also a North Carolina Certified Police Instructor for Subject Control and Arrest ...Read More