The Importance of Advanced Leadership Training in Law Enforcement

In law enforcement, supervisory training often comes only after an officer is promoted. Because of this, many new supervisors find themselves in leadership roles without having received much formal training in leadership or management.

Effective leadership training for police leaders is essential because it helps shift an agency’s culture from being purely regulatory to more service-oriented, which can strengthen public trust, improve officer safety, and support individual development. Leadership training empowers officers and supervisors to improve decision-making in high-pressure situations, reduces misconduct through ethical accountability and transparency, and improves morale. 

In order to lead effectively and morally, police leaders need leadership training that provides skills in communication, emotional intelligence, team building, providing direction and guidance, decision-making, and conflict resolution. Leadership training is also key to developing the skills needed to create a culture of continuous learning within the organization, such as fostering a culture that emphasizes the proper use of after-action reviews. 

A 2025 study by the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) found that law enforcement leadership training programs that are rooted in communication, ethics, and accountability shift a supervisor’s mindset toward service-oriented policing, an approach that increases public satisfaction, safety, and community cooperation.  

In other words, the right leadership training can change mindsets when officers begin to see themselves as service-driven leaders and bring that perspective back to their agencies, which can prompt organizational changes and improve relationships with the communities they serve.  

Research Shows High-Performing Agencies Provide Advanced Leadership Training

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust (LMCIT) recently completed the fourth year of a research initiative with Benchmark Analytics, named the iMPACT Project, to utilize predictive analysis to identify risk factors facing Minnesota law enforcement agencies and to provide evidence-based recommendations for approaches to address these risks.  

One part of the research focused on advanced leadership training and whether it helps reduce risk. The study looked for connections between strong leadership development and better outcomes for both the public and law enforcement agencies. The research showed a strong correlation between leadership training and a reduction in both the severity and total loss of workers’ compensation and auto claims for agencies in the years after the practice was implemented. 

Further, the research found that agencies with command staff skilled in advanced leadership fostered cultures of excellence, purpose, and pride in service excellence. In addition, the research showed that agencies that provide advanced leadership training — along with having a clear mission statement and core values and a focus on normalizing officer mental health and wellness — also saw reduced turnover.

Leadership Training Available 

LMCIT’s Peace Officer Accredited Training Online (PATROL) program, in collaboration with the Minnesota Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA), is developing a new series of leadership courses. The first course looks at the importance of trust and legitimacy at the individual level and how trust impacts the relationship between leaders and followers. Additional courses to be released in the coming months in this leadership series focus on topics such as succession planning and leadership transitions, how to set yourself up to be a successful supervisor, and practical skills for good leaders.  

There are a variety of additional advanced leadership training opportunities to enhance the professional development of law enforcement leaders and elevate policing and ethical standards within your agency. These trainings are for police officers at all levels, including mid- to senior-level leaders, and are available in Minnesota and at the national level. Some of the advanced leadership training opportunities available include:

·         PATROL Online Leadership and Trust Training (LMCIT)

·         FBI-LEEDA Command Leadership Institute (CLI)

·         FBI-LEEDA Executive Leadership Institute (ELI)

·         FBI-LEEDA Five Star Chief Executive Institute

·         FBI-LEEDA Leadership Integrity (LI)

·         FBI-LEEDA Leading Edge Mindset: Frontline Leadership

·         FBI-LEEDA Online Distance Learning

·         FBI-LEEDA Supervisor Leadership Institute (SLI)

·         FBINAA Leadership Certification Program  (FBINAA)

·         FBI National Academy (FBINA)

·         IACP First-Line Leadership Training (FLL)

·         IACP Chiefs Leadership Certificate Program (IACP)

·         IACP Leadership in Police Organizations (LPO)

·         Law Enforcement Executive Development Seminar (LEEDS)

·         Law Enforcement Supervisors Leadership Training Program (LESLTP)

·         MCPA Executive Leadership College (MCPA)

·         MN Advanced Leadership Academy (MCPA)

·         MN BCA Senior Leadership Development Training Program (BCA)

·         MN BCA Supervision Development Training Program (BCA)

·         MN CLEO and Command Academy (MCPA)

·         MN Fall Leadership Summit (MCPA)

·         MN Leadership Academy (MCPA)

·         Northwestern School of Police Staff & Command (SPSC)

·         PERF Senior Management Institute for Police (SMIP)

·         Police Executive Leadership Institute (Major Cities Chiefs Association)

·         Southern Police Institute (SPI)

Questions?

I am available to answer any questions about this ongoing research or the various advanced leadership training courses available to your agency. I can be contacted at 763-232-5328 or tstille@lmc.org.

Stay Safe,   

Tracy

Grant Program Supports Body-Worn Cameras for Small and Rural Law Enforcement Agencies

Body-worn cameras (BWCs) have become a cornerstone and useful tool of modern law enforcement with an estimated 80% of police officers using BWCs nationwide to enhance transparency with their communities and to document crime scenes and citizen encounters.  

The Small, Rural, and Tribal Body-Worn Camera (SRT BWC) Grant Program opened for new applications on Jan. 26 and the deadline to apply is March 12. Apply for the SRT BWC grant and watch an introductory video to the program.

The SRT BWC program provides funding for body-worn cameras to:

• Law enforcement agencies with 50 or fewer full-time sworn personnel
• Rural agencies located in non-urban or non-metro counties
• Federally recognized tribal law enforcement agencies

Funds may be used to purchase or lease body-worn cameras and to cover expenses reasonably related to implementing a comprehensive BWC program. Grants may support pilot programs, new implementation, or expansion of existing programs.

Grant funds may not be used for BWCs purchased prior to Jan. 1, 2026. A one-to-one match is required and may include in-kind contributions.

The program is administered by Justice & Security Strategies Inc. through a cooperative agreement with the Bureau of Justice Assistance. 

Research shows high-performing agencies use body-worn cameras 

The League of Minnesota Cities Insurance Trust recently completed the fourth year of the iMPACT Project, a research study that utilizes predictive analysis to identify key risk factors facing Minnesota law enforcement agencies and to provide evidence-based recommendations for approaches to address these risks.  

One of the findings of the research addressed body-worn cameras and how the data was being used to successfully reduce risks. The research showed a correlation to a reduction in both liability and worker’s compensation claims for agencies that have established a BWC program and a process for reviewing BWC data to provide direct feedback to officers. Quite simply, the evidence-based benefits of BWCs to reduce liability risk is centered around how agencies use that footage to learn, train, commend, and develop their officers through an after-action review process.  

League website offers additional resources related to body-worn cameras

The League offers free resources on the use of body-worn cameras, including a model policy, to help cities administer BWC programs and handle the subsequent data soundly and in accordance with Minnesota law. 

Additionally, the League’s Grant Navigator program can assist cities with the costs involved in applying for a grant. Grant Navigator helps cities understand, identify, and apply for grant funding for city projects, including BWC programs. Under the program, the League may provide funding up to $5,000 per city to cover grant research and writing expenses using consultants necessary to prepare the grant application. 

Questions?

I am available to answer any questions or address any concerns about your BWC program and this grant opportunity. Contact me at 763-232-5328 or tstille@lmc.org.

Stay Safe,

Tracy

Clean Slate Act-related Records Expungements Underway

The Bureau of Criminal Apprehension (BCA) has expunged (sealed) more than 75,000 records in the state's Criminal History System (CHS) following Minnesota Judicial Branch review in compliance with the Clean Slate Act, under MN Statute 609A.015.

These records now appear in the Clean Slate Expungement Report, a by-agency list of Clean Slate Act-expunged records in CHS. The report serves as notice to your agency that expungement relief was granted.

The work on approximately 2 million additional qualifying records is underway. Those approved for expungement – both past and future records – will be added to the Clean Slate Expungement Report as expungements occur.

How does the Clean Slate Act affect local agency records?

The Clean Slate Act requires automatic expungement (sealing) of certain records from a person's BCA criminal history that in the past would require the person to petition the court for an order expunging the record. Local agencies are not required to expunge records within their own systems. However, agencies should refer to the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS prior to releasing any records to ensure records contained in the report are not released.

It is important to review the Clean Slate Expungement Report because the report contains all levels of offenses that have been expunged, including petty misdemeanor and misdemeanor records that are not available through running a CHS report.  

Because these expungements apply to both prior and future records, agencies should now begin including a check of the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS as part of your data practices processes on an ongoing basis.

Training available

Training on how to access the Clean Slate Expungement Report in CHS is available on the BCA Launch Pad within the NexTEST training library.

Additionally, a new Expungement Manual for law enforcement leaders, city attorneys, and staff covering Minnesota Criminal Expungement matters was recently published by Richard Hodsdon, general counsel for the Minnesota Sheriff’s Association (MSA). MSA also plans to offer quarterly training in 2026, with the first training session scheduled for Jan. 27.

Questions?

Questions can be directed to Jill Oliveira, public information officer, Minnesota Department of Public Safety at 651-793-2726 or jill.oliveira@state.mn.us.

Stay Safe,

Tracy