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TLEA

    TLEA Program Overview

    Application Phase: The agency applies for membership by contacting the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police for an application packet. The agency, once accepted into the TLEA program, receives necessary materials to assist in the next phases.

    The agency determines its level of compliance with Tennessee Accreditation standards. Files are established where proofs of compliance are compiled. In this phase all agency policies and procedures undergo a review, and are updated/revised as necessary.
    A Tennessee Accreditation Program assessor(s) reviews the agencies policies, procedures, and practices against the standards to ensure necessary compliance is met. A report is then compiled and forwarded to the Professional Standards Committee for review and nomination to award accreditation is made.
    The governing Board reviews the nomination and decides to award or defer accreditation. A date, time and location is arranged for formal presentation of the award.
    In order to maintain accredited status, agencies must provide annual documentation of continued compliance and undergo an onsite assessment every three years.

    TLEA Fee Structure

    Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program - Revised on June 1, 2020
    Click here to download and print a copy of the TLEA Fee Chart

    Number of Sworn Positions Annual Fee Annual Fee App Fee Per officer discount 25% rebate on app
    10 or less $400 $100 $300 $1,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    11 to 25 $650 $300 $300 $1,100 min to $2,500 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    26 to 50 $850 $425 $300 $2,600 min to $5,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    51 to 75 $1,150 $525 $300 $5,100 min to $7,500 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    76 to 100 $1,350 $650 $300 $7,600 min to $10,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    101 to 175 $1,650 $750 $300 $10,100 to $17,500 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    176 to 300 $1,900 $850 $300 $17,500 to $30,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    301 to 500 $2,750 $950 $300 $30,100 min to $75,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    501 to 1000 $5,250 $1,150 $300 $50,100 min to $100,000 max $75 rebate = true cost $225
    1001 or more $10,500 $1,400 $300 $100,100 min + $75 rebate = true cost $225

    * Application fee is non refundable.
    Application fee is due with returned and completed application
    ** After accreditation, Public Entity Partners provides a $100/per officer discount as well as a 25% rebate on the application fee.

    TLEA Accredited Agencies

    • Alcoa PD*
    • Ashland City PD
    • Austin Peay University PD
    • Bartlett PD
    • Belle Meade PD
    • Blount County SO*
    • Brentwood PD*
    • Bristol PD*
    • Chattanooga PD*
    • Clarksville PD*
    • Cleveland PD*
    • Collierville PD
    • Columbia PD
    • Cookeville PD*
    • Dickson County SO
    • Dyersburg PD*
    • Elizabethton PD
    • Fairfield Glade PD*
    • Franklin PD*
    • Gallatin PD
    • Gatlinburg PD
    • Germantown PD
    • Goodlettsville PD
    • Greenville PD
    • Hendersonville PD
    • Jackson PD
    • Jefferson City PD
    • Johnson City PD*
    • Knoxville PD*
    • Lebanon PD
    • Lenoir City PD
    • Lexington PD
    • Martin PD
    • Maryville PD*
    • McMinnville PD
    • Memphis PD*
    • Metro Nashville PD*
    • Millington PD
    • Morristown PD
    • Murfreesboro PD
    • Nashville International Airport PD*
    • Nolensville PD
    • Northeast State Community College PD
    • Oak Ridge PD
    • Pigeon Forge PD
    • Portland PD
    • Putnam County SO
    • Red Bank PD
    • Ripley PD
    • Sevier County SO
    • Sevierville PD
    • Shelbyville PD
    • Signal Mountain PD
    • Southwest TN Community College PD
    • Spring Hill PD
    • Springfield PD
    • Tennessee Bureau of Investigation*
    • Tennessee Highway Patrol*
    • Tennessee State University PD
    • UT Chattanooga PD
    • UT Health and Science Center PD*
    • UT Knoxville PD*
    • Vanderbilt University PD*
    • Washington County SO*
    • Waverly PD
    • White House PD
    • Williamson County SO
    *Notes CALEA agency

    TLEA Resources

    Useful links to external sites:

    TLEA Frequently Asked Questions:

    An accreditation program has long been recognized as a means of maintaining the highest standards of professionalism. Accreditation is the certification by an independent reviewing authority that an entity has met specific requirements and prescribed standards. Schools, universities, and hospitals are some of the most well known organizations that are required to maintain accreditation. Law enforcement agencies in Tennessee can now attain accredited status through the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program.
    The benefits of accreditation are many and will vary from agency to agency. The benefits to the community are that accreditation increases the law enforcement agency's ability to prevent and control crime through more effective and efficient delivery of law enforcement services to the community it serves. Accreditation enhances community understanding of the law enforcement agency and its role in the community as well as its goals and objectives. Citizen confidence in the policies and practices of the agency is increased. Accreditation, in conjunction with the philosophy of community policing, commits an agency to a broad range of programs (such as crime prevention) that directly benefit the public.

    Accreditation increases the cooperation and coordination with other law enforcement agencies and other branches of the criminal justice system. The accreditation process requires an in-depth review of every aspect of your agency's organization, management, operations and administration including:

    • Establishment of agency goals and objectives with provisions for periodic updating;
    • Re-evaluation of whether agency resources are being used in accord with agency goals, objectives and mission;
    • Re-evaluation of agency policies and procedures, especially as documented in the agency's written directive system;
    • Correction of internal deficiencies and inefficiencies before they become public problems;
    • The opportunity to re-organize without the appearance of personal attacks.
    • The standards provide norms against which agency performance can be measured and monitored over time.
    Please click here to inquire about the TLEA application process.
    There is a $300 non-refundable fee to apply.

    There are 164 standards in the 4th Edition TLEA Standards Manual. Agencies have a 3 year cycle within which to build files and proofs of these standards.

    Click here to see the 4th Edition Standards Manual.

    TLEA Merchandise

    Item Price
    Window Cling $2.00 each + shipping

    Click here for order form and email to admin@tacp.org.

    TLEA Contact Us

    For more information about the Tennessee Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, contact Ken Sircy, Accreditation Program Manager, at 615-726-8227 or email ken@tacp.org.