The Institute for Law Enforcement Administration (ILEA) at The Center for American and International Law (CAIL) hosted the 150th session of its School of Police Supervision (SPS) this June, a milestone for one of the nation's only independent four-week school dedicated to educating first-line police supervisors.
Photo: 150th School of Police Supervision, Plano, TX
Held June 1–26 at CAIL's education center in Plano, the 150th class brought together 40 officers from 28 Texas law enforcement agencies — spanning large metro departments and small-town forces alike — for an intensive program built around one central question: what's the difference between a supervisor and a leader?
The answer, according to independent academic research, is measurable. A study by researchers at Tarleton State University, published in the Journal of Criminological Research, Policy and Practice, found that the share of SPS participants who viewed policing as a service-oriented profession rose from 63% before training to 77% after — evidence that the program doesn't just build management skills, it shifts mindset.
"Reaching our 150th School of Police Supervision is a testament to what this program has always been about — giving supervisors the tools to lead with integrity, not just authority," said Gregory Smith, ILEA Director. "The research bears out what we've seen firsthand for years: when you invest in how officers communicate and make decisions, you change how they see the job itself. That shift is the foundation of good policing."
Since its founding, SPS has educated generations of Texas officers navigating the difficult transition from peer to formal leader, covering high-stakes topics including ethical decision-making, procedural justice, communication under pressure, and crisis response. Graduates leave with up to 120 hours of TCOLE credit — and, according to the Tarleton State study, a measurably greater likelihood of embracing service-oriented policing.
"What happens in that classroom doesn't stay there — it's the integrity, ethics, and principled leadership every officer carries home, back to their agency, and out into the communities they serve," said Matt Clem, ILEA Associate Director. "A supervisor who leads with integrity sets the tone for an entire department. That's who we've educated for 150 sessions now — thousands of officers, changing how communities experience policing, one leader at a time."
That impact is echoed by agency leaders who've sent officers through the program for years.
"Since accepting the Chief's position in 2022, I have sent every one of my supervisors through the School of Police Supervision — a deliberate decision, and one of the most valuable professional development investments our department has made," said Christopher Cook, Chief of Police, City of White Settlement. "Our sergeants and lieutenants return with clearer perspective, stronger interpersonal skills, and a more thoughtful approach to the people they lead and the community they serve."
As ILEA marks 150 sessions of SPS, the program stands as proof of a principle that drives the institute's work: strong law enforcement organizations are built — or weakened — at the first-line supervisory level.
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About the Institute for Law Enforcement Administration - The Institute for Law Enforcement Administration was founded in Dallas, Texas, in 1957 as a division of The Center for American and International Law, a nonprofit educational institution for lawyers, judges, and law enforcement professionals. ILEA has a well-established reputation as a leader in policing education in the United States and worldwide through innovative professional development, continuing education, and ethics/ethical decision-making programs that prepare law enforcement leaders to thrive in times of calm and during moments of crisis.