For more than a century, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) has stood as a cornerstone in advancing the profession of law enforcement. As we look at its long history, current work, and future direction, it’s clear that IACP has played, and continues to play, a vital role for police leadership, agencies, and the communities they serve.
What Is IACP?
Founded in 1893, the IACP is the world’s largest and most influential professional association for police leaders. It began when police chiefs, concerned with the lack of cooperation and information sharing among departments, met to forge a national association. Over time, its scope expanded to include not just chiefs, but law enforcement professionals at many levels, civilian personnel, researchers, and partners in related fields.
Headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, the IACP is a nonprofit that advocates for policy and legislation to support law enforcement and public safety. It produces research, develops training, and publishes The Police Chief, a leading magazine for policing professionals. The organization also offers professional services, standards, guidance, and tools for best practices in policing.
How IACP Supports Law Enforcement Agencies
Law enforcement agencies, from small municipal departments to large state or national forces, benefit from IACP in many ways:
Networking and Peer Learning
IACP creates opportunities for agencies of all sizes to share lessons learned, innovations, and effective strategies through conferences and professional gatherings.
Training and Professional Development
IACP offers a range of training programs and institutes in leadership, officer wellness, and policy development.
Standards, Best Practices, and Research
Through its policy center, publications, and research, IACP helps agencies stay current with evolving threats, emerging technologies, and community expectations.
Advocacy and Government Relations
IACP amplifies the collective voice of law enforcement leaders in policy discussions, ensuring decision-makers understand the realities of policing.
How IACP Supports Communities
While much of IACP’s work is focused on agencies, its mission always includes building safer, more trusting, and more resilient communities.
- Community-Police Engagement: IACP provides toolkits, training, and resources to help agencies build transparency, trust, and stronger community relationships.
- Public Safety and Crime Prevention: Initiatives cover strategies to promote traffic safety, prevent impaired driving, and encourage youth engagement.
- Officer Wellness and Organizational Health: By prioritizing officer wellness and sustainable leadership models, IACP ensures healthier agencies and safer communities.
- Global Reach: With members in more than 170 countries, IACP facilitates international collaboration and cross-border learning.
Looking Ahead: The IACP Annual Conference October 2025
One of the key events on the IACP calendar is its Annual Conference & Exposition.
- Dates & Location: October 18-21, 2025, in Denver, Colorado
- Scope & Scale: More than 16,000 public safety professionals are expected to attend, with over 600 vendors on the expo floor showcasing tools, technologies, and services.
- Education and Networking: The conference features educational workshops, keynote addresses, and sessions geared to chiefs, command staff, first-line leaders, technology specialists, and more. It’s a chance to see new technologies, engage with vendors, discuss policy trends, and build partnerships.
Honoring the Past, Supporting the Future
Over its more than 125 years, IACP has represented something essential in policing: the principle that law enforcement benefits when we work together by sharing knowledge, standardizing training, holding ourselves to high professional and ethical standards, and never losing sight of the communities we protect.
Kustom Signals deeply respects that legacy. Many of the tools and technologies we develop, from traffic safety enforcement to officer-safety systems, align with IACP’s mission of safer, smarter, more transparent policing. We see every day how training, research, and ethical leadership amplify the difference that properly designed technology can make.
We thank IACP and all its members for their leadership and support, and we’re proud to share in the mission of advancing law enforcement.