May 2024

Policing Leadership Academy Graduation Interviews

Hear from a select group of PLA graduates on their experience with the academy.

Related Resources
Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) Overview
Handout

Policing Leadership Academy (PLA) Overview

May 2025

Read an overview of the Policing Leadership Academy (PLA), a first of-its-kind program launched in May 2023 to train America’s policing leaders working in some of our most violent neighborhoods.

Video: Reducing Violence and Improving Policing
Video

Video: Reducing Violence and Improving Policing

Feb 2025

This video offers a glimpse into the Policing Leadership Academy, a violence reduction initiative designed to prevent violent crime, support officers, and improve fairness and effectiveness in policing throughout some of the country’s most violent neighborhoods.

Video: Creating Safer Communities by Improving Policing
Video

Video: Creating Safer Communities by Improving Policing

Jan 2025

Griffin Catalyst highlights the Policing Leadership Academy, a new national leadership program that brings together rising police leaders from around the country for five months of advanced, intensive training in management best practices, leveraging data and technology and building community trust—all with the ultimate goal of creating safer, more vibrant communities.

NBER Working Paper: Predicting Police Misconduct
Academic Paper

NBER Working Paper: Predicting Police Misconduct

May 2024

This paper outlines the results of research on over a decade of Chicago Police Department data that shows it is possible to predict risk of on-duty and off-duty misconduct, allowing police departments to prioritize training and supportive resources.

Latest Updates

David Young Completes Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy
Web Post
May 2025

David Young Completes Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy

The Chattanoogan recognizes David Young, Division Chief of Professional Service for the Chattanooga Police Department, for his completion of the Crime Lab’s Policing Leadership Academy (PLA)—a program aimed at reducing violent crime by promoting efficiency and fairness in policing.

Comedy and crime fighting join forces for police learning leadership skills
Media Mention
Associated Press
Jun 2025

Comedy and crime fighting join forces for police learning leadership skills

Claudia Lauer for The Associated Press highlights the Policing Leadership Academy’s partnership with The Second City that uses improv exercises to help police leaders build deeper communication skills and meet their goals of increasing community engagement and creating safer cities.

How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago
Podcast
Tradeoffs
Jun 2025

How Treating Teens’ Trauma Is Stopping Violence in Chicago

The Tradeoffs Podcast highlights the Crime Lab’s study of Choose to Change, a program that pairs cognitive behavioral therapy with wraparound supports to engage young people who are increasingly disconnected from school and often exposed to high levels of trauma – with the goal of keeping them safe and helping them thrive.