NCJ Number
206699
Journal
FBI Law Enforcement Bulletin Volume: 73 Issue: 7 Dated: July 2004 Pages: 8-11
Date Published
July 2004
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article reviews the history and describes the current membership and mission of Minnesota's Professional Law Enforcement Assistants' Association (PLEAA), which has improved training, networking, and recognition for law enforcement professional support personnel.
Abstract
The seeds of the PLEAA were planted among eight law enforcement assistants who attended a 1998 seminar for Minnesota law enforcement support personnel. The seminar facilitated the recognition that there was a need for an ongoing structure and network for improving the training and proficiency of law enforcement administrative support personnel. In early 1999, eight of the original seminar participants formed Minnesota's first association for law enforcement support personnel. The PLEAA's stated mission is to encourage and promote a high degree of skill and efficiency for members; provide relevant law enforcement training; establish cumulative relationships through a strong networking system; ensure more uniformity in services; and enable members to provide enhanced professional assistance to chief law enforcement officers and member departments. PLEAA currently (2003) has approximately 250 people on its mailing list, which includes 165 dues-paying members from 80 Minnesota law enforcement agencies. Many of the PLEAA members' chiefs, sheriffs, and other top administrators have shown strong support for PLEAA and its mission, including giving of their time to provide law enforcement-related training that will upgrade the knowledge base of administrative support personnel.