Contributed Article
Safford – The Safford Police Department is proud to become an accredited agency through the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP), administered by the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). As part of our ongoing commitment to transparency and community engagement, we invite employees and members of the public to provide feedback regarding our agency’s performance and compliance with LEAP accreditation standards.
We encourage comments, commendations, or concerns about our compliance with ALEAP standards, community engagement, delivery of public safety services, and our continued pursuit of accredited status. The intent of the accreditation process is to support continuous improvement and promote professional excellence throughout our department.
Feedback can be submitted directly to the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program via their website at https://azleap.org/community-feedback/.
Please Note: ALEAP is not an investigatory body, and the portal should not be used to submit complaints that require follow-up or investigation. No direct response will be provided beyond an acknowledgment of receipt. However, all submissions will be reviewed as part of our ongoing efforts to maintain compliance and improve our services.
A copy of the ALEAP standards is available for public review at https://azleap.org/about-aleap!
For additional questions, you may contact our Accreditation Manager at muenchow@saffordaz.gov or reach the ALEAP Director, Stacy Olson, at stacyolson@azchiefsofpolice.org.
About the Assessment Process
As part of the ongoing accreditation process, a team of ALEAP assessors, comprised of law enforcement professionals from across Arizona, will periodically review our policies, procedures, management practices, operations, and support services. The assessment team will examine written materials, conduct interviews, and observe agency practices to ensure compliance with ALEAP’s rigorous “best practice” standards.
To achieve and maintain accredited status, the Safford Police Department must demonstrate compliance with 174 ALEAP standards.
According to Chief Brian Avila, “Accreditation leads to greater accountability within the agency, reduces risk and liability exposure, provides a stronger defense against civil lawsuits, increases community advocacy, and builds public confidence in our ability to serve and protect.”
Accreditation is awarded for a four-year period, during which the agency must submit annual reports confirming continued compliance with ALEAP standards
About ALEAP
ALEAP is administered by the Arizona Association of Chiefs of Police (AACOP). To learn more about AACOP or the accreditation process, visit www.azchiefsofpolice.org or www.azleap.org.
