Idaho POST receives prestigious national accreditation award

MERIDIAN, Idaho — On December 4, 2025, the Idaho Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST) Academy received re-accreditation by the International Association of Directors of Law Enforcement Standards and Training (IADLEST). IADLEST Executive Director Mike Becar presented the award at the quarterly Idaho POST Council Meeting.

In June of 2025, an IADLEST assessment team spent two days onsite at the POST Academy campus reviewing the agency’s compliance with nationally established IADLEST standards. The assessors inspected the POST Academy; interviewed employees, instructors and students; and viewed actual training in the high liability topics of firearms, emergency vehicle operation, and defensive tactics to determine that the POST Academy met the requirements of a highly regarded law enforcement training organization. The assessors found that POST was compliant with all standards and was successfully accredited for the second time. In 2022, the Idaho POST Academy received IADLEST’s highest accreditation score awarded at that time. This time, POST achieved an even higher score, once again earning them the Award of Excellence designation.

“This reinforces our confidence in the Idaho POST Academy and what they are doing,” said Meridian Chief of Police Tracy Basterrechea. “It is fairly rare for POST academies to reach the accreditation status through IADLEST, so this is a huge deal. Really, what it says to the community and to the people of Idaho is that your police officers are getting the best training available nationwide. Earning re-accreditation shows that Idaho does not just follow standards; we help set them. Achieving the IADLEST Award of Excellence for a second time demonstrates that Idaho POST continues to be a national leader in our profession. It is about preparing officers for the realities of the job and ensuring the people of Idaho receive the highest level of service.”

The purpose of the IADLEST Law Enforcement Academy Accreditation Program is to evaluate and improve the operational viability of academies by sharing and recommending industry best practices. Accreditation is a voluntary process. IADLEST accreditation provides an independent and objective evaluation of academy standards, policies, lesson plans, and record-keeping practices. The process not only strengthens operational excellence and promotes evidence-based training methods but also supports continuous improvement, ensuring that standards remain at the cutting edge of law enforcement education.

Ultimately, the greatest beneficiaries of this achievement are Idaho’s peace officers and the communities they serve. Officers receive high-quality, targeted training designed to prepare them for success. Communities gain confidence that their officers are trained to the highest standards, using model practices shaped by national expertise and community expectations.

“Accreditation is not the finish line. It reflects our passion to lead and innovate in our pursuit of excellence,” said POST Administrator Brad Johnson. “POST is committed to delivering exceptional training that equips officers to serve their communities with skill and integrity. By setting the bar high, we are helping to shape the future of law enforcement training across the nation.”

Additional information POST award: https://youtu.be/ZXDqdjeCCx8

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IADLEST’s mission is to research, develop, and share best practices to help states establish effective and defensible standards for law enforcement training. This mission aligns closely with Idaho POST’s commitment to delivering exceptional and forward-focused law enforcement training. Achieving re-accreditation places Idaho POST among a select group of academies recognized as national leaders in public safety education and training.

For more information about IADLEST and its accreditation program, visit https://www.iadlest.org/our-services/accreditation.

Posted in District 1 - Northern Idaho, District 2 - Central Idaho, District 3 - Western Idaho, District 4 - Southern Idaho, District 5 - Southeastern Idaho, District 6 - Eastern Idaho