New Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program Seeks to Enhance Professionalism

Recent legislation across the nation and calls for police reform have made law enforcement accreditation a hot topic of conversation. An accreditation program is designed to help law enforcement agencies implement effective practices, improve outcomes, and promote safer communities by promoting excellence in policing through the adoption of standards that reflect state and national professional best practices.  

Minnesota joins other states in developing its own accreditation program

Each state may have its own unique accreditation program, with standards and processes tailored to its specific needs and context. Examples include the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, the Illinois Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, and the Ohio Collaborative Law Enforcement Accreditation Program. 

The Minnesota Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (MNLEAP) is a new voluntary initiative designed to recognize and improve the quality of law enforcement agencies by ensuring they meet specific standards and best practices. The program aims to enhance professionalism, public confidence, improved internal practices, and the overall effectiveness of law enforcement across the state.  

MNLEAP standards are consistent with the requirements of Minnesota POST, which operates under the authority of Minnesota Statutes and Administrative Rules. The MNLEAP Standards Manual details a variety of obtainable law enforcement best practices and functions, including administrative, personnel, operations, investigative, and arrestee or prisoner. 

Accreditation determined by MNLEAP Commission

The process of achieving Minnesota accreditation is outlined in the Accreditation Process Manual, which explains how an agency conducts a comprehensive self-assessment by reviewing their policies, procedures, training, and operations against the established accreditation standards. Those operations are then reviewed to ensure compliance with the established standards, after which a decision to grant accreditation is made by the MNLEAP Commission, which oversees the accreditation standards and provides guidance to law enforcement agencies across the state. If the law enforcement agency meets the standards, it is awarded accreditation and must also undergo a periodic re-accreditation assessment to ensure ongoing compliance. 

Jen Wolf, deputy administrator for the League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust, currently serves on the MNLEAP Commission.  

Grants available to cover accreditation costs

Obtaining accreditation may seem cost prohibitive for some agencies, but grants are available to fund help cover the costs:

• The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association offers financial assistance to assist small agencies with the accreditation process.  
• A federal grant for the Community Policing Accreditation Program is available through the U.S. DOJ COPS Office. The deadline for the 2025 grant period closed in June, but information about the next grant period will be posted on the website when it is available. 

Related materials

The Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association offers several materials related to MNLEAP, including: 

• Welcome & Question Guide 
• Agency application 
• Sample letter of intent 
• Fee schedule 
• Announcement/communication templates to share updates with city leaders and council members, and to highlight your agency’s progress on social media or in the news  

If you have any questions on the MNLEAP process, contact Accreditation Specialist Josh Potts at the Minnesota Chiefs of Police Association at 763-516-0153 or josh@mnchiefs.org.  

I am also available to answer any questions or address any concerns. I can be contacted at 763-232-5328 or tstille@lmc.org.

Stay Safe!

Tracy