The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission (WSCJTC) is proud to announce that its Southwest Regional Campus in Vancouver has officially earned accreditation from the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST)—with the highest score ever recorded in IADLEST’s history.
In addition to accreditation, Vancouver was also honored with the IADLEST Academy Award of Excellence, a distinction reserved for agencies that meet the highest international standards in law enforcement training.
This marks another national milestone for WSCJTC, which became one of the first state agencies in the country to achieve IADLEST accreditation when its Burien headquarters earned the honor earlier this year. Now, the Commission is extending that same standard of excellence to regional academies across Washington—starting with Vancouver.
“Our goal is simple,” said Executive Director Monica Alexander. “Wherever you train in Washington, you should receive the same quality instruction—grounded in research, community needs, and professional excellence.”
A National Benchmark for Training Excellence
IADLEST accreditation represents the gold standard in law enforcement training. The process involves a comprehensive review of curriculum, instructor qualifications, facilities, governance, safety practices, and student evaluations.
For the Vancouver campus, the review team found consistency, innovation, and leadership that exemplify WSCJTC’s mission. Assessors praised the academy’s creativity in transforming a former elementary school into a state-of-the-art training facility, its use of scenario-based learning, and the commitment of its staff and leadership.
Lead assessor Kelly Alzaharna told the committee:
“They scored 3s in nearly every category. If I could have given them 3-plus, I would have. The effort they put into meeting these standards is just short of amazing.”
Out of 54 IADLEST standards, Vancouver received 3s in 50 of them—earning a total score of 118.598, surpassing Idaho POST’s previous record of 116.345.
Co-assessor Rick Jacobs added:
“You can tell how good the instructors are by how well the students perform. Every recruit I spoke with was sharp, engaged, and professional. I’d hire any one of them in a heartbeat.”
A Culture of Continuous Improvement
For WSCJTC leadership, accreditation is not an endpoint—it’s a commitment to continuous growth.
“This process makes us better,” said Deputy Director Jerrell Wills. “Accreditation reinforces our intent to always adhere to the highest standards. We wear this recognition with pride—not just on our buildings, but in how we train, lead, and serve.”
Executive Director Alexander echoed that sentiment, highlighting how accreditation has inspired a healthy sense of statewide collaboration and competition:
“Our Pasco campus now wants to beat Vancouver’s score—and that’s exactly the kind of energy we want. Each regional campus supports one another, driving across the state to help raise the bar together.”
Looking Ahead
The Vancouver campus joins Burien as one of only two IADLEST-accredited state training sites in the nation—and the Commission is already preparing for what’s next. Accreditation efforts are now underway for Pasco, Arlington, and Spokane, as part of WSCJTC’s long-term vision to ensure every regional campus meets nationally recognized standards of excellence.
“We owe it to our recruits—and to the communities they serve—to keep raising the bar,” Alexander said.
About IADLEST:
The International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST) is a nonprofit organization that sets global benchmarks for police training and certification. Accreditation is granted only to academies that demonstrate compliance with best practices in leadership, curriculum, facilities, and ethics.
About WSCJTC:
Established in 1974, WSCJTC provides training to law enforcement, corrections officers, and other public safety professionals in Washington State. Its mission is to establish certification and training standards so that criminal justice professionals have the knowledge and skills to protect the communities they serve.