Accredited Chief / Command Executive (A.C.E.)
Certification Program
“Recognizing Professional Excellence”
The core Mission of the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) through their Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) is to promote and enhance the highest ethical and professional standards in law enforcement at all agency levels throughout Arizona. Key among these tenets are; leadership, learning, vision, knowledge, ideas, influence and relationships.
ALEAP stresses the importance of enhancing the abilities, intelligence and initiative of our members, member leaders and partners through establishing standards. To that end, the ALEAP Accredited Command Executive (ACE) and Accredited Chief Executive (ACE-CHIEF) Certification Programs directly encourages Arizona’s Law Enforcement Executives to attain sanctioned benchmarks in pursuit of a recommended standard for police leadership that are measurable and attainable. By offering proof of these standards to the ALEAP Commission, individual police leaders can attain ALEAP Accredited Command Executive (ACE) or Accredited Chief Executive (ACE-CHIEF) Certification status.
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In compliance with our previously stated principles, the ACE and ACE-CHIEF Certification Programs will quantify necessary proofs and award individual leadership accredited status based on those appraisals. Furthermore, the ACE and ACE-CHIEF Certification Programs will promote and encourage continued education through Re-Certification Program requirements.
Initial Certification Requirements (3-Year Certification)
Accredited Chief Executive (ACE-CHIEF)
Academic Achievement Standards
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A. Chiefs must have graduated with a Master's Degree from an Accredited Academic Institution (Proof of Degree) or;
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B. Must have achieved a Bachelor's Degree from an Accredited Academic Institution plus must have attended at least three (3) additional Executive Level or Advanced Police Leadership training courses identified in The "Executive Level Training" section. (Proof of Degree)
Command Experience​
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Certification must have a minimum of one-year experience serving as a Chief of Police (Proof of Appointment).
Executive Level Training​
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Certification must have attended at least two (2) of the Executive Level or Advanced Police Leadership Training listed below (Proof of Training Certificates).
Agency Accreditation
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Certification must be a member of an agency that is already accredited or must be currently pursuing accreditation through ALEAP.
Regional Chiefs/AACOP/IACP Membership​
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Certification must be an active AACOP member as well as a member (or former member) of a Regional Chiefs Association, AACOP/IACP Executive Board or committee member (Proof of Membership).
Accredited Command Executive (ACE)
Academic Achievement Standards
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A. Must have graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree from an Accredited Academic Institution. (Proof of Degree) or;
B. Must have achieved an Associate’s Degree from an Accredited Academic Institution plus must have attended at least three (3) additional Executive Level or Advanced Police Leadership training courses identified in The "Executive Level Training" section. (Proof of Degree)
Command Experience​
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Command Officers seeking ACE Certification must have experience serving at the rank of Lieutenant (equivalent) or higher for a minimum of two (2) years or must be assigned as a Sergeant with command responsibilities (as individually determined by the ALEAP Commission) at their current police agency for a minimum of two (2) years. (Proof of Appointment)
Executive Level Training​
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A. Candidates seeking ACE Certification must have attended at least two (2) of the Executive Level or Advanced Police Leadership Training listed below (Proof of Training Certificates).
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B. Candidates seeking ACE Certification must successfully complete the Arizona POST Executive Leadership Program (ELP) (Proof of Training Certificates)
ACE Program Participants will have one year from their initial accreditation award to take the ELP course
AACOP Membership​
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Candidates seeking ACE Certification must be an active AACOP member (Proof of Membership).
Approved Executive Level Training (Both Programs)
FBI National Academy FBI-LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI) FBI-LEEDA Command Leadership Institute (CLI)
FBI-LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute (ELI) FBI LEEDS (Executive Development Seminar) Northwestern University SPSC Program
Northwestern Executive Management Program Northwestern University SPP Program Naval Post-Graduate Program
PERF Senior Management Institute Southern Police Institute Command Development Major City Chiefs - Police Executive Leadership Institute
Claremont University Executive Leadership Inst. ALEAP Accreditation Manager ALEAP Assessor
California Command College Southern Police Institute Administrative Officers Course Leadership for the 21st Century - Harvard/Kennedy School
IACP Women's Leadership Institute Other Training as Approved by the ALEAP Commission
Re-Certification Requirements
AACOP Membership
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Candidates seeking ACE or ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must maintain AACOP Active and/or Retired Membership during the entire three (3) year period preceding Re-Certification application. ACE and ACE-CHIEF Certification expires 3 years from December 31st of the year of previous certification.
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Executive Level Training​
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A. Candidates seeking ACE or ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must attended a minimum of three (3) AACOP meetings per year over a three (3) year-period following initial certification (or re-certification) or 9 of 12 meetings over the three-year period. Attendance at the Annual AACOP Conference will be counted as two (2) meetings attended for the purpose of this calculation.
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B. Candidates seeking ACE or ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must successfully complete quarterly virtual ALEAP approved continuing education provided through the ALEAP Virtual Academy portal. The continuing education program will focus on current legal trends, legal advisories, leadership and other topics beneficial to Chiefs and Command Executives. Each quarterly topic will have an associated quiz to ensure that the delivery of the material was successful. A passing score of 80% is required.
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C. Candidates seeking ACE or ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must attend at least one (1) Special Training Session (Designated annually for the AACOP Conference) over a three (3) year period following initial certification. (Proof of Training)
Additional Re-Certification Requirements for ACE Participants
Additional Leadership Training
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Candidates seeking ACE Re-Certification must attend a minimum of at least one (1) additional Executive Level or Advanced Police Leadership Training listed above a three (3) year period following initial certification or re-certification (Proof of Training Certificates).
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Additional Re-Certification Requirements for ACE-CHIEF Participants
Agency Accreditation
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must maintain Accredited status for their agency through the ALEAP Program.
Regional Chiefs/AACOP/IACP Membership​
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Chiefs seeking ACE-CHIEF Re-Certification must have served on the AACOP/IACP Executive Board or as a member of a Regional Chiefs Association Committee at least one year (1) over a three (3) year period following initial certification.
Application and Fees
Candidates seeking ACE or ACE-CHIEF Certification must complete the application (below) and submit it electronically with proofs identified depending on the program applied for.
A preliminary review of the application will be conducted and an email will be sent indicating eligibility and include an invoice for the program fee.
The fee for participation in the ACE or ACE-CHIEF program is $100 per year per participant. The fee includes fees to cover administrative, assessment, certificate, awards, challenge coins, pins and program costs. Payment must be made by Credit or Debit card only.
