Kevin E. Rhea

As a seasoned veteran of police accountability, leadership, and accreditation, Kevin E. Rhea joined the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP) in July of 2018 to develop the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. This program is a joint partnership between AACOP, The Arizona Municipal Risk Retention Pool (AMRRP), the League of Arizona Cities and Towns and Arizona Police Officers Standards and Training commission (AZPOST). Kevin was able to take this first of its kind law enforcement accreditation program in Arizona from concept to reality in three-months. This included development of program infrastructure, standards development, program budgets and training of agency accreditation managers and independent assessors.

A 25-year veteran of the Novi (Ml) Police Department, Training and Standards Sergeant Kevin E. Rhea joined the organization in July 1993. Throughout his tenure he has served as a Dispatcher, Police Officer, Detective, Uniform Sergeant, and was appointed Training and Standards Sergeant in 2013. As the Sergeant in charge of Training and Standards, Sergeant Rhea is responsible for leading and managing the Novi Public Safety Records Section, all agency training for sworn and civilian staff, as well as serving as the agency Accreditation Manager for both the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc (CALEA) and the Michigan Law Enforcement Accreditation Commission (MLEAC).

Sergeant Rhea earned a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from Ferris State University in 1990 and received his Master of Public Administration (M.P.A.) Degree from Eastern Michigan University in 2003. He is a 2009 graduate of Eastern Michigan University's School of Police Staff and Command Executive Leadership program, finishing at the top of his class and earning the award for the top overall research project.

Sergeant Rhea considers himself a lifelong learner and enjoys the study of leadership, motivating personnel, and creating a culture of ethical and professional behavior.