ALEAP - Accreditation The Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) is a voluntary process where police agencies in Arkansas prove their compliance with Arkansas Law Enforcement’s current Best Practices or Standards. In 2020, the Department of Justice announced Standards for Certification as a result of President Trump’s June 2020 Executive Order 13929, Safe Policing for Safe Communities.
The Executive Order’s goal is to ensure law enforcement agencies continue to provide transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of services to their communities. Independent credentialing bodies were approved nationwide to certify agencies. The certification process is extensive and is overseen in Arkansas by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) within their Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP).
Within the ALEAP program, 173 standards and 436 proofs of compliance must be met by each department seeking accreditation. In addition to these standards, there are two mandatory safe policing principles in which an agency must show compliance: The agency’s use-of-force policies must adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws; and the agency must maintain use-of-force policies that prohibit the use of choke holds, except in those situations where deadly force is allowed by law. Lt. Don Robertson served as the Accreditation Manager over this certification process for Benton Police Department, and at a Benton City Council meeting, Chief Hodges was presented with the formal recognition of the department as the 17th in Arkansas to earn this certification.
The credentialing bodies maintain the list of certified agencies and submit them to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services. In meeting these certification requirements, BNPD and other certified agencies retain eligibility for Department of Justice discretionary grant funding and commit to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement. For more information regarding this program/process as it pertains to Arkansas, visit arkchiefs.org.
BNPD will continue to meet and exceed the requirements of the accreditation moving forward.
Chief Hodges recently attended the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) Conference in Hot Springs. Benton PD was recognized for its recertification/reaccreditation through the Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program which is overseen by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Chief Hodges is pictured with Jackie Davis, (Ret) Cabot Chief and AACP ALEAP Director (left) and Gary Sipes, (Ret) Jacksonville Chief, former Benton Police Chief from 2004-2008, and AACP Executive Director (right).
Benton PD was first recognized as an accredited agency in 2021. Lt. Don Robertson serves as the Accreditation Manager over this process for our agency.
Looking for a New Career?
Download the App
ALEAP - Accreditation The Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP) is a voluntary process where police agencies in Arkansas prove their compliance with Arkansas Law Enforcement’s current Best Practices or Standards. In 2020, the Department of Justice announced Standards for Certification as a result of President Trump’s June 2020 Executive Order 13929, Safe Policing for Safe Communities.
The Executive Order’s goal is to ensure law enforcement agencies continue to provide transparent, safe, and accountable delivery of services to their communities. Independent credentialing bodies were approved nationwide to certify agencies. The certification process is extensive and is overseen in Arkansas by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) within their Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP).
Within the ALEAP program, 173 standards and 436 proofs of compliance must be met by each department seeking accreditation. In addition to these standards, there are two mandatory safe policing principles in which an agency must show compliance: The agency’s use-of-force policies must adhere to all applicable federal, state, and local laws; and the agency must maintain use-of-force policies that prohibit the use of choke holds, except in those situations where deadly force is allowed by law. Lt. Don Robertson served as the Accreditation Manager over this certification process for Benton Police Department, and at a Benton City Council meeting, Chief Hodges was presented with the formal recognition of the department as the 17th in Arkansas to earn this certification.
The credentialing bodies maintain the list of certified agencies and submit them to the U.S. Department of Justice’s Office of Community-Oriented Policing Services. In meeting these certification requirements, BNPD and other certified agencies retain eligibility for Department of Justice discretionary grant funding and commit to maintaining the highest standards of integrity in law enforcement. For more information regarding this program/process as it pertains to Arkansas, visit arkchiefs.org.
BNPD will continue to meet and exceed the requirements of the accreditation moving forward.
Chief Hodges recently attended the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police (AACP) Conference in Hot Springs. Benton PD was recognized for its recertification/reaccreditation through the Arkansas Law Enforcement Accreditation Program which is overseen by the Arkansas Association of Chiefs of Police.
Chief Hodges is pictured with Jackie Davis, (Ret) Cabot Chief and AACP ALEAP Director (left) and Gary Sipes, (Ret) Jacksonville Chief, former Benton Police Chief from 2004-2008, and AACP Executive Director (right).
Benton PD was first recognized as an accredited agency in 2021. Lt. Don Robertson serves as the Accreditation Manager over this process for our agency.