Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS) and
Regional Command Colleges

LEEDS is a two-week executive training program designed for the chief executive officers of the nation's mid-sized law enforcement agencies. Begun in 1981, the seminar has graduated more than 1300 executives.

Goals

The expression "It's lonely at the top," finds a home among the participants who all report a lack of executive training in the law enforcement profession. This seminar is one during which the participants can reflect and regroup for the next portion of their executive career.

Content

During the seminar, the executives are provided with instruction and facilitation in the areas of leadership, strategic planning, legal issues, labor relations, media relations, social issues, and police programs. Some of the most productive learning takes place outside of the classroom during evening conferences and over meals. The environment of the FBI Academy is conducive to independent thought and study. Participants have the opportunity to exchange plans, problems and solutions with peers, to develop new thoughts and to share the successes of their own community.

The Director of the FBI is a regular guest at the Seminar and makes it a point to thank the executives for the support provided to federal law enforcement initiatives by state, county and municipal law enforcement. "We could not do it without you."

Eligibility and Funding

The program is designed for law enforcement agencies employing 50 or more sworn personnel in communities of at least 50,000. Travel expenses, housing and meals are provided.

Regional Command Colleges

To serve the needs of smaller agencies, Regional Command Colleges have been created to train chief executives and certain second-in-command officers. Since approximately 80 percent of the law enforcement agencies in the United States have fewer than 25 sworn officers, the regional Command Colleges serve the majority of local agency executives.

Currently 16 command colleges throughout the United States are modeled on the LEEDS curriculum. The three primary areas of instruction are management, legal issues, and media relations. The command college is a 40-hour course. Support for the program is provided by the FBI and other sponsors. Executives attending must pay their transportation and housing.

Graduates - LEEDA

Most of the graduates of LEEDS and the Regional Command Colleges become members of the Law Enforcement Executive Development Association (LEEDA), and continue to attend annual training conferences to continue their education.

Applying for these Programs

Law enforcement executives interested in applying for either of these programs should contact the Police Training Coordinator at their local FBI field office.