Law Enforcement Executive Certification Program

VACP CERTIFIED LE EXECUTIVES

List of VACP Certified Law Enforcement Chief & Command Executives

CERTIFICATION PROGRAM OVERVIEW

Purpose
Program Structure
Certification Requirements
Application and Fees
Supporting Documentation
LEECP Committee
Appendices

I. PURPOSE

The Virginia Association of Chiefs of Police is an organization that strives to promote the professional development and highest standards of executive and management level personnel of law enforcement agencies throughout Virginia.

The Law Enforcement Executive Certification Program (LEECP) encourages police executives to attain and maintain established benchmarks of accomplishment to achieve a recommended standard for police leadership within the state of Virginia.

II. PROGRAM STRUCTURE

There are two levels of law enforcement certification available for Virginia public safety leaders:

Chief Executive Officer - the chief or commanding officer of a law enforcement agency.
Command Executive Officer - a law enforcement command officer who serves in an executive or upper management position at the rank of lieutenant or above (or the equivalent rank for law enforcement agencies with 35 or less sworn force, as provided on an organizational chart depicting the levels within the agency).

III. CERTIFICATION REQUIREMENTS

Applicants must meet ALL eligibility requirements in the program for both initial certification and recertification. Applicants must meet mandatory eligibility, tenure, and educational requirements for initial certification. Certification is for 3 years, and participants must recertify every 3 years to remain active in the program. The application process will allow participants to certify these requirements for initial participation or meet the requirements for recertification.

It is the member’s responsibility to submit a separate application for recertification, demonstrating a commitment to continued professional development through training, conference attendance, and meeting the program’s certification requirements.

You must be a VACP or VACLEA member (Active or Associate level) to participate in the certification program. Current members must be up-to-date on their dues to be approved for certification (login to your account and check for any unpaid invoices). Non-members can apply for membership in order to qualify for certification.

IV. APPLICATION AND FEES

Initial Certification
1. Applicants seeking LEECP certification must complete an online LEECP application and submit it electronically.
2. A preliminary review of the application will be conducted by VACP staff and then sent to the LEECP committee for final review and approval. Additional documents may be needed to verify the applicant’s training, education, and experience. It will be the responsibility of the applicant to provide these verification documents to the committee in a timely manner.
3. The initial certification fee for the LEECP is $225.
4. Payment must be received by the VACP before certification is awarded.
5. If you are certified by the VACP as a Command Executive Officer and achieve the rank of chief law enforcement officer, you may reapply for the Chief Executive Officer, if qualified, without paying the initial application fee a second time. You must file for initial certification of Chief Executive Officer before any recertification becomes due.
Recertification
Members must recertify every 3 years to remain active in the program. It is the member’s responsibility to submit a separate application for recertification, demonstrating a commitment to continued professional development through training, conference attendance, and meeting the program’s certification requirements.
1. Members seeking LEECP recertification for the Law Enforcement Chief Executive Officer must complete the LEECP recertification application and submit it electronically.
2. Applications for recertification must be submitted no more than 60 days before the date of certification or last recertification.
3. If certification has lapsed, applicants must meet all requirements for initial certification to become recertified. Certifications will not be considered lapsed if an application has been filed on time and is awaiting approval by the committee.
4. A preliminary review of the application will be conducted by the VACP staff and then sent to the LEECP committee for final review and approval. Additional documents may be needed to verify the member’s training, education, and experience. It will be the responsibility of the member to provide these verification documents to the committee in a timely manner.
5. The recertification fee for the LEECP is $75.
6. Payment must be received by the VACP before certification or recertification is awarded.

V. SUPPORTING DOCUMENTATION

Applicants must attach a current resume with the completed application.
Documentation is required to verify that education and professional development requirements have been met. Documentation may be required to verify other categories if needed.
Applicants should only submit copies of all required documentation, as these documents will not be returned.
Acceptable forms of documentation include but are not limited to, copies of diplomas/degrees; copies of training certificates; copies of DCJS, agency, or academy training records; DCJS PIC forms; copies of course attendance or instructor records.
All courses submitted for credit must be approved before certification is awarded. If a course or program is not listed in the appendix, applicants must attach a summary and/or description of the course, a link to the course website, or outline of the training.

VI. LAW ENFORCEMENT EXECUTIVE CERTIFICATION PROGRAM (LEECP) COMMITTEE

The LEECP committee will oversee the administration of the certification program and its membership requirements.

The LEECP committee will consist of at least one VACP Board member and four VACP active member chief executive officers selected by the VACP Board. A VACP Board member shall serve as the committee chair.
Committee members will serve a two-year term.
The committee will meet in person or virtually as needed to conduct the following business:
1. Review and approve or reject applications.
2. Review and approve or reject specific write-in requirements on the application (training courses, memberships, etc.) submitted by applicants for certification.
3. Maintain a database of approved training courses to assist with reviewing future applications.
4. Conduct an annual review of the requirements for initial certification and subsequent recertification and provide the VACP Executive Board with suggested program updates.
Appeals of any LEECP Committee decisions will be heard by the VACP Executive Board.