Senate Passes Promoting Police Leadership Act Inspired by University of Chicago’s PLA

The U.S. Senate passes the bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act, landmark legislation that draws heavily from the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA).

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Policing Leadership Academy

WASHINGTON, DC — Wednesday night, the U.S. Senate passed the bipartisan Promoting Police Leadership Act (S. 4394), landmark legislation that draws heavily from the University of Chicago Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA), an educational initiative focused on the critical commander rank responsible for overseeing day-to-day operations.

The bill would establish the nation’s first national framework for commander-level law enforcement training. Sponsored by Senators John Cornyn (R-TX) and Sheldon Whitehouse (D-RI), the bill passed as part of a National Police Week package with sign-on from 14 bipartisan co-sponsors and support from major law enforcement organizations nationwide.

Just three years after its launch, the PLA has helped elevate police leadership from a largely overlooked issue to one receiving bipartisan attention in Congress and across the law enforcement community.

Since 2023, the PLA has trained more than 200 law enforcement leaders from 95 jurisdictions across the country, including many of the communities most affected by violent crime. The Academy has demonstrated that there is both demand for and value in evidence-based leadership development for law enforcement executives.

“For decades, we have invested heavily in training police officers at the beginning of their careers, while largely overlooking the leaders responsible for guiding strategy, deploying resources, supervising personnel, and shaping relationships with communities,” said Roseanna Ander, Founding Executive Director of the UChicago Crime Lab. “We’re encouraged to see the growing recognition from lawmakers that if we want safer communities, lower violence, and stronger trust between police and the public, we must invest in the people leading these organizations.”

This legislation would direct the Department of Justice to develop a national framework for commander-level training and establish a voluntary certification process for leadership programs that meet national standards.

“Leadership matters in every organization, but it is especially consequential in policing,” said Kenneth E. Corey, Executive Director of the PLA and former NYPD Chief of Department. “Investing in better police leadership is one of the highest-leverage opportunities we have to reduce violence, improve performance, and strengthen public trust.”

The bill now moves to the House of Representatives, where companion legislation has been introduced by Representatives Russell Fry (R-SC) and Josh Gottheimer (D-NJ).

The interest from policymakers reflects increasing recognition of leadership development as a national public safety priority—with the model pioneered by the PLA a key part of that conversation.

The PLA was made possible thanks to the generosity of Ken Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, who provided a leadership gift to launch the PLA and whose early, visionary support has enabled the development and initial scaling of the program. The PLA is also grateful for early support from Michael Sacks.

Statements from Senators Cornyn and Whitehouse about Senate passage of the bill can be found here. The Senate Judiciary Committee’s announcement can be found here.

The University of Chicago Crime Lab partners with nonprofits and government organizations to design, test, and scale data-driven innovations to improve the public sector’s response to gun violence and to help make communities safer and more just.