Patrick becomes first woman to lead law enforcement facility

BRUNSWICK - Former sheriff&#39;s deputy Connie Patrick has been named director of the Federal Law Enforcement Training Center, becoming the first woman to lead the facility created in 1975. <br> <br> The 48-year-old Patrick takes over for Ralph Basham, who accepted a position with the Transportation Secuirty Administration in January. <br> <br> She began her career as a sheriff&#39;s deputy in Florida in 1976, and eventually joined the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, where worked her way up to special agent in charge of its Investigative Support Bureau. <br> <br> Patrick joined the center in 1996 as the director of general training, where she directed the faculty. In 2000, President Bill Clinton gave Patrick a Presidential Meritorious Rank Award, which is one of the government&#39;s highest honors for a civil servant. <br> <br> Her appointment was well received in coastal Georgia.