The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | January 2025
NJSACOP ’ s Command & Leadership Academy Expands Internationally
Courses to be held in Budapest and Botswana
The NJSACOP ’ s Command & Leadership Academy has steadily developed into one of the nation ’ s premier law enforcement leadership development courses , attracting law enforcement leaders from across the eastern seaboard .
And now the academy is providing professional development internationally .
From June 10-21 , 2024 , four instructors from the NJSACOP travelled to Budapest , Hungary to teach its curriculum to command and supervisory officers from Croatia , Hungary , Slovenia , and Slovakia at the International Law Enforcement Academy ( ILEA ) in Budapest . The 32 participants included supervisory law enforcement officers , supervisory investigators , or other supervisory criminal justice officials , all of whom are required to share the knowledge gained with their colleagues .
The ILEA program is a U . S . Department of State , Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs ( INL ) initiative designed to enhance international cooperation and training for law enforcement agencies around the world . Established in partnership with host countries , ILEA facilities are located in regions worldwide , including Hungary , Thailand , Botswana , El Salvador , Ghana , and New Mexico , U . S .
The U . S . Department of State extended the invite to the NJSACOP because the academy is known for its unique blend of theory and application designed to create future leaders in law enforcement . Following the success of the initial program , federal officials have requested the NJSACOP deliver the Command and Leadership Academy program three more times in the upcoming months at ILEA locations in Budapest and Botswana .
Typically , the course runs 104 hours over 13 weeks . But to accommodate ILEA , NJSACOP academy instructors condensed the June program to 72 rigorous hours in nine days of instruction to fit the ILEA program . The curriculum integrates behavioral science theories and scenario-based learning to enhance education and skill development . The trainers included NJSACOP Executive Director Mitchell Sklar , NJSACOP Senior Fellow David Annets , NJSACOP Trainer Al Stiehler and Paul Sorrentino , Professional Development Director , NJSACOP .
“ This collaboration between NJSACOP and ILEA exemplifies the strength and impact of international cooperation in law enforcement training ,” said Edward Scott , Deputy Director of the International Law Enforcement Academy in Budapest . “ Bringing together command-level officers from Croatia , Hungary , Slovenia , and Slovakia allows us to share valuable insights , foster cross-border partnerships , and create a foundation for mutual understanding . By integrating NJSACOP ’ s rigorous leadership curriculum , we ’ re helping to build a network of leaders equipped to address complex challenges on a global scale .”
The instructors delved into topics focused on developing leaders and encouraging strategic thinking .
NJSACOP emphasizes leadership as a science with logical thinking and critical methodology , along with police-oriented case studies . The intensive course encourages practical application of organizational theory within a law enforcement context .
“ Hundreds of law enforcement supervisors have graduated from the program since the early 1990s , as the program initially expanded from New Jersey into five surrounding states ,” Sorrentino said .
Sorrentino noted many command and supervisory personnel embrace education , as the challenging curriculum is designed to force the students to find new methods to solve problems through logic , critical thinking , methodology and vision .
“ During the program , students work in small groups to apply theories and solve real-life scenarios ,” he said .
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