We Are Reimagining Accreditation! But what does that mean?
Reimagining Accreditation means stepping beyond the traditional, compliance-focused view of accreditation and seeing it as a dynamic, people-centered profession that drives leadership, culture, and trust. It’s about shifting the conversation from checklists and plaques to people, impact, and innovation.
Here’s what that looks like in practice:
From Agency-Centered to People-Centered
Traditionally, accreditation is viewed as an agency achievement—the spotlight is on the organization when the plaque goes on the wall. Reimagining accreditation means shifting focus to the professionals and assessors who make the process happen. It’s about recognizing their expertise, contributions, and leadership as a legitimate profession.
From Compliance to Culture
Too often, accreditation is seen as a burden of proving compliance. Reimagining it means using accreditation as a leadership tool that helps build strong organizational cultures rooted in accountability, transparency, and continuous improvement.
From Task to Profession
In many agencies, accreditation is “other duties as assigned.” Reimagining accreditation elevates the role into a career path—with training, professional development, mentorship, and recognition. This transforms accreditation into a respected discipline with standards of practice and a body of knowledge.
From Silos to Community
Reimagining accreditation means breaking down silos between disciplines—law enforcement, fire, EMS, corrections, communications, and emergency management—and creating a shared professional community where best practices, lessons learned, and innovations can be exchanged.
From Past-Focused to Future-Driven
Traditionally, accreditation has looked backward—documenting what was done. Reimagined accreditation looks forward, asking: How can we use accreditation to shape better leadership, improve service delivery, and strengthen community trust?
Advancing Excellence in Public Safety Accreditation
The National Association for Accreditation Leadership (NAAL) is the premier professional organization dedicated to public safety accreditation professionals, helping agencies achieve and maintain accreditation excellence. Whether you're a law enforcement accreditation manager, fire services leader, emergency management director, or compliance officer, NAAL provides the resources, training, and industry network to help you elevate standards, ensure compliance, and improve public safety operations.
OUR ROLE IN THE ACCREDITATION COMMUNITY
At NAAL, we want to be clear: we are not here to compete with, replace, or replicate the work of any accrediting body or PAC. We recognize and deeply respect the critical role that Programs and PACs play in shaping the accreditation landscape—providing standards guidance and assessment support to Accreditation Managers on program specific standards. Their contributions are foundational, and their role in the accreditation ecosystem is irreplaceable.
NAAL is discipline-agnostic by design. We hold no authority over standards, assessments, or agency compliance. Our mission is different—but complementary. We exist to champion the people behind the programs: the professionals who lead, sustain, and advance excellence in public service through accreditation. This is your space to connect, grow, and lead with purpose.
NAAL champions the people behind accreditation.
We don’t set standards or assess compliance. We are an independent organization and not affiliated with any specific accreditation program or PAC.
We support the professionals who do. Whether you're shaping policy, managing compliance, or leading an agency, NAAL is your professional home. If you're involved in accreditation at any level, this is your call to connect, grow, and lead alongside peers who share your commitment to excellence.
Accreditation Professionals - Accreditation Managers / Coordinators, Accreditation Analysts / Specialists, Quality Assurance Coordinators
Agency Leadership - Chiefs of Police, Fire Chiefs, Sheriffs, Emergency Management Directors, Public Safety Directors, Wardens, and other Leaders
Command & Supervisory Staff - Captains, Lieutenants, and Sergeants, Division and Unit Commanders, Internal Affairs / Professional Standards Supervisors
Professional and Support Staff - Records Managers, Policy and Compliance Officers, Training Coordinators, Emergency Services Administrators
Assessors and Program Evaluators - Peer Assessors (State or National Programs), Accreditation Team Members, Program Auditors and Assessors
Consultants and Educators - Public Safety Accreditation Consultants, Criminal Justice & Public Administration Faculty, Organizational Development Specialists
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Why Join NAAL?✔️ Access to cutting-edge accreditation training and workshops
✔️ Networking opportunities with public safety accreditation professionals ✔️ Exclusive compliance tools, policy templates, and best practices ✔️ Accreditation certification programs to advance your career Join NAAL today and become a leader in public safety accreditation.
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The first 100 members become part of our Founders Club, an exclusive opportunity that will never be offered again.Founders Club members receive: ✅ Lifetime recognition on our website and materials ✅ Early access to programs and initiatives ✅ A custom NAAL swag pack ✅ Founders-only events and networking | 23 States and Counting!
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Police Records/Standards Specialist Christina Adcock - Forest Preserve District of DuPage County (IL)
Assistant Chief Scott Baetens - Novi (MI) Police Department Supervisor Jody Barrett - St. John's County (FL) Sheriffs Office Police Services Administrator Bolor Bat-Erdem - Elk Grove Village (IL) Police Department Police Accreditation and Policy Administrator DeeAnn Bill - Henderson (NV) Police Department Accreditation Manager Becky Boland - Minnesota (MN) State Patrol Kimberly Brewster (ret.) - Orlando (FL) Police Department, Owner, KBrewster Consulting LLC. Thomas Breyer - IAFF (ret.) *Advisory Board Member* Accreditation Manager Maureen Buckland - Town of DeWitt (NY) Police Department Sergeant Sean Butler - Longboat Key (FL) Police Department Corporal Nicholas Calzetta - Marquette (MI) Police Department Professional Standards Manager MaryAnne Calogero - Onondaga County (NY) Department of Emergency Communications Accreditation Manager Chelsea Charnock - Douglasville (GA) Police Department Accreditation Manager Cori Cirolia - Berwyn (IL) Police Department Accreditation Manager Roland DeGraauw - Southlake (TX) Police and Fire Departments Isaiah Dennard - CEO, DCC & Associates (FL) Accreditation Manager Katelyn Drago - Newton (NH) Police Department Lieutenant Ethan Dunn - Tangipahoa Parish (LA) Sheriff's Office Policy & Accreditation Manager Andrew Elder - Ohio (OH) Emergency Management Agency Accreditation Manager Stephanie Erb - Buckeye (AZ) Police Department *Advisory Board Member* Police Accreditation Coordinator Andrea Glover - Savannah (GA) Police Department Chief Ryan Grim - Marquette (MI) Police Department *Advisory Board Member* Commander Kristie Gruenwald - Novi (MI) Police Department Management Analyst Janice Hamm - Fremont (CA) Police Department Chief Michael Hawkins - Trenton (MI) Police Department Accreditation Technician Christina Holwell - Huber Heights (OH) Police Department Accreditation Manager Kayla Hovelson - Brookings (SD) Police Department Lieutenant Phil Huddy - Vero Beach (FL) Police Department Accreditation Analyst Stephanie Hunn - Arvada (CO) Police Department Areaka Jewell - CEO, Accreditation Academy (FL) Special Projects Coordinator Bobby Johnson - Cuyahoga Metro Housing Authority (OH) Police Department Division Director, Strategic Operations & Accountability Dr. Sonya Johnson - Savannah (GA) Police Department Deputy Chief Benjamin Kadolph - Willowbrook (IL) Police Department Accreditation Manager Mary Kelley - Shelby County (AL) Sheriff's Office Chief Anthony King - Stratham (NH) Police Department Accreditation Manager Cheryl Krage - Arapahoe County (CO) Sheriff's Office Accreditation Manager Mary Kyler - Wheatridge (CO) Police Department Inspections Lieutenant James Langton - Fort Myers (FL) Police Department Training and Accreditation Coordinator Stephen Leigh - Carol Stream (IL) Police Department Lonnie Lemons - CEO, Pursuit of Excellence Training and Consulting Ex. Dir. Nicole Ishmael Livingston - Emergency Management Accreditation Program *Advisory Board Member* Accreditation Manager Kierstan Lynch - Cape Coral (FL) Fire Department Commander Robert Manar - Novi (MI) Police Department Deann Macleod (ret.) - Kingman (AZ) Fire Department Communications Director *Advisory Board Member* Administrative Sergeant Josiah Morrissette - Uxbridge (MA) Police Department Accreditation Manager Jolene Nagle - Littleton (CO) Police Department Accreditation Manager James Nolting - Wethersfield (CT) Police Department Accreditation Manager Dr. Lynn Odenthal Ph.D. - Upper Arlington (OH) Police Services *Advisory Board Member* Dr. Jeff Owens - Accreditation Manager (ret.) Hollywood (FL) Police Department - Owner, Accreditation Colony Jessica Peltz, BSN, RN - Owner, Medical Transport Accreditation & Compliance (FL) Accreditation Manager Mike Pence - Novi (MI) Police Department Assistant Chief Eric Perry - Golder Ranch (AZ) Fire District Chief Compliance Officer Jeanne Pierce - Coastal Ambulance (FL) Dr. Larry Porter - President, Council for the Accreditation of Emergency Management & Homeland Security Education (CAEMHSE) Director of Accreditation Felicia Prince-Heath - Columbia (SC) Police Department Attorney Joseph Race - Daigle Law Group (CT) *Advisory Board Member* Accreditation Manager Jeff Rasche - Fort Myers (FL) Police Department Accreditation Manager Kristin Rightler - Jupiter (FL) Police Department File Program Consultant Jennie Rivera - Connecticut Police Officer Standards and Training (CT) Accreditation Manager Gary Robinson - Palm Beach County (FL) Sheriff's Office Dr. James Scott, DJC - Albertus Magnus College (CT) Accreditation Manager Shelia Setzer - Parker (CO) Police Department Chief (ret.) Harvette Smith - CompliGrowth Solutions (FL) Professional Standards Manager Marta Sorchik - Cobb County (GA) Department of Emergency Communications David Taylor - Consultant, Pursuit of Excellence (OH) *Advisory Board Member* Chief Paul Tennies - University of Michigan (MI) Police Department Training Coordinator/CALEA Accreditation Manager Dakota Vest-Wright, ENP - Mobile County (AL) Communications District - 911 Accreditation Manager Amy Von Cullin - Middlebury (CT) Police Department Accreditation and Planning Specialist Marilyn Wagner - Fuquay-Varina (NC) Police Department Accreditation Specialist Kellie Walsh - Apex (NC) Police Department Accreditation Manager Bill Washburn - University of Washington (WA) Police Department Office of Professional Standards Manager Amy Wheeler - Colorado (CO) Bureau of Investigaation Accreditation Manager Tammie Wichers - North Port (FL) Fire Department *Advisory Board Member* Sergeant Marita Williams - Albany (GA) Police Department Accreditation Manager Michael Wholihan - McCandless-Franklin Park (PA) Ambulance Authority Professional Standards Captain Shawn Yates - Fort Myers (FL) Police Department Deputy Chief Susan Zecca (ret.) - Norwalk (CT) Police Department Police Accreditation Specialist Joseph Zelinski - Savannah (GA) Police Department Director of Public Safety / Chief of Police Erick Zinser - Novi (MI) Police Department * Note: Not all Founders Club Members are listed at the members request. *
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