Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program

The Certified Law Enforcement Executive Program (CLEEP) is open to all active full-time police chiefs in Alabama who are members in good standing in the Alabama Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). Participants should declare their intent to pursue certification in advance of starting the program. Also, CLEEP is available to all executive level administrators upon approval by the chief of their departments. They will be given a certificate of attendance but will not be certified until they become chiefs of police and members in good standing with AACOP. All participants admitted to the CLEEP program are eligible to receive the designation of “Certified Law Enforcement Executive” awarded by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission reaching 240 hours.

Four-Level Program

Level I - Certificate in Police Management-awarded upon completion of 40 hours of training
Level II - AACOP Certification in Law Enforcement – 80 hours of training (includes first 40 hours)
Level III - AACOP Certification in Law Enforcement - 160 hours of training (includes hours earned in Levels I and II)
Advanced AACOP Certification in Law Enforcement - 240 hours of training (includes all hours earned previously) • An additional certification will now be awarded to all participants completing 240 hours of training. The Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission (APOSTC) will now bestow the designation, “Certified Law Enforcement Executive” on those reaching this level of excellence.

Tuition Funded by the Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission

Modules offered as a part of the annual AACOP Conferences are included in the conference fee.
All training for chiefs of police held on the university campuses will now be FREE with the following requirements: 1) be one of the first 25 chiefs to register and 2) be a member in good standing with AACOP. Any credit balances with JSU must be used before any scholarships are awarded. Any chief that enrolls in the campus classes and does not attend will be considered a “no show” if they have not called to cancel. This will result in forfeiture of any scholarship opportunities for one year and AACOP will notify the chief’s mayor of their absence.
The New Chiefs’ Development Seminar has been expanded to three days. This training is provided FREE to chiefs that meet the following requirements: 1) has not yet attended this seminar, 2) is a member in good standing with AACOP and 3) will attend at least one AACOP Conference in the year the scholarship is received.
All funding is contingent on the chief passing any tests involved. If a chief fails the test, takes it over and fails again, AACOP will invoice the chief for the class or classes failed.
Non-Chiefs: Training held at the university locations will consist of two eight-hour modules ($99 per day)

Certification Requirements

The program is a series of one-day (eight-hour) courses, and twelve hours of training at the state conferences. The Certificate of Achievement in Police Management requires 40 hours of training (seminars, conference events, etc.) approved in advance by AACOP and UPACE for credit toward the Certificate. To become certified requires an individual to be currently serving as a police chief or admitted to the program by the AACOP training committee, as well as successfully completing 80 hours of instruction. These hours include the first 40 hours completed when the Certificate of Achievement was earned.

Attendance Verification and Testing

Participants will be tested at the end of each module. Tests are maintained on file as documentation of attendance, as well as a list of APOSTC license scans. Testing is essential to maintaining the integrity of the certification process. It is documented evidence that participants have a reasonable mastery of the material presented in the seminar. A pass/no-pass exam (without letter or numerical grades) will be given at the end of each module. In the event someone does not pass the test, he or she may retake the exam one time, if desired. Those requesting to take the exam over will be afforded the opportunity at the next conference, or they may make an appointment at one of the university locations to take a proctored exam.

Recognition

An important direct benefit of having successfully completed this certification process is the public prestige of having met a prescribed standard of excellence in the law enforcement profession. Therefore, every effort will be made to promote and publicize a participant’s achieving each level of certification.

Among the efforts:

Letters to mayors and city council members.
Press releases to local media outlets
Formal plaques
Formal awards at annual AACOP Conferences
Acknowledgements in official AACOP publications and on website Non-chiefs will receive certificates as each level is achieved. Those hours remain intact once promoted to chief. After promotion to chief, a plaque will be awarded for the most recent level of achievement and for each milestone thereafter. Life members are approved to remain in the program and receive appropriate recognition.

Record Keeping

When participants enter the CLEEP program, UPACE will maintain the database necessary to track progress toward certification. Records on number of hours completed can be obtained by visiting the JSU website or by contacting Jessica Burgess (256) 782-5918 email: jpburgess@jsu.edu. Please add this email address to your contact list to make sure you receive communications regarding the CLEEP program. If your title or contact information changes, please contact Jessica Burgess immediately so your record can be updated.

Scheduling

Each year up to 88-hours credit will be scheduled as follows:

Twelve hours at each of two annual AACOP conferences - a total of 24 hours
Sixteen hours (back-to-back, eight-hour sessions) at the universities—a total of 64 hours per year. Some seminar topics that attract large registrations may be offered more than once during the year.
The New Chiefs’ Development Seminar will be offered twice a year, and credit will be given only once. All courses count toward the certificate and upper levels of certification. The Alabama Peace Officers Standards and Training Commission provides this training free to chiefs who have not yet attended, are in good standing with AACOP, and will attend at least one AACOP conference in the year the scholarship is received.

Registration

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