LEEMI

Request for Training Approval

Act 388 of the 2003 Regular Session, Louisiana Legislature.

For many years the Louisiana Association of Chiefs of Police had felt the need to provide intensive management and administrative training to Chiefs of Police, especially newly elected or appointed Chiefs.

After two years of study and research, our Association decided to sponsor legislation that would provide the information required to improve the management skills of Chiefs and, in general, raise the level of professionalism of law enforcement in the state. We asked for the creation of the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute (LEEMI) within the Office of the Governor. The Institute would be administered by a Board composed of three Chiefs of Police, one Mayor, and the Executive Director of the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.

There was not one vote against our proposed legislation and it is now state law–Act 388 of the 2003 Regular Session. The law became effective January 1, 2004. We were also successful in getting state funding. Funding is through the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.

The law has two main requirements.

First, beginning January 1, 2004, all newly elected or appointed municipal Chiefs of Police are required to successfully complete a New Chief Management Course within one year of their election or appointment. This is a thirty-two (32) hour course in law enforcement administration. Chiefs who are required to complete the course are reimbursed for lodging and food.

Second, effective January 1, 2004, all municipal Chiefs are required to complete twenty-four (24) hours of continuing education as approved by the Board, within every twenty-four month (24) period.

The Mission Statement of the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute is as follows:

It is the mission of the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute to provide and coordinate instruction on the administration and management of the office of all newly elected and appointed Chiefs of Police of Louisiana’s municipalities, and to approve, coordinate, and provide continuing education for municipal Chiefs of Police. In addition, the Law Enforcement Executive Management Institute shall conduct research to improve law enforcement and police administration, and serve as a resource for Chiefs of Police in the operations of their offices and in their professional development.