Johnson County Sheriff’s Office news release
December 23, 2025 (JOHNSON COUNTY, IA) – The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office is proud to announce they are the first Sheriff’s Office in the State of Iowa to achieve the Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program’s (ILEAP) Law Enforcement Accreditation. The accreditation went into effect as of December 17, 2025, and will be effective for a period of four years. The ILEAP Accreditation Program was developed by the Iowa Police Chiefs Association and the Iowa Sheriffs and Deputies Association, and was made available for application near the end of 2024 with the goal of helping law enforcement agencies to:
• Establish and maintain standards that represent current professional law enforcement best practices.
• Increase the effectiveness and efficiency in the delivery of law enforcement services.
• Establish standards that address and reduce liability for the agency and its members.
Major Randy Lamm, JCSO Chief Deputy, led the agency’s efforts in applying for the ILEAP Accreditation and ensuring the agency’s strict adherence to the accreditation’s numerous standards and requirements. Major Lamm and Johnson County Sheriff’s Office personnel spent nine months pursuing the successful completion of 21 different areas of assessment, including (but not limited to) use of force; professional standards; recruitment and selection; training and career development; and property and evidence control.
The process of meeting the accreditation standards included making adjustments to existing policies and procedures, adding policies where applicable, communicating these changes to personnel, and putting the standards into practice. The Johnson County Sheriff’s Office was also required to submit proof of adherence to the standards in order to satisfy the necessary criteria of the ILEAP Accreditation.
By achieving this accreditation, the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office has demonstrated their commitment to serving the Johnson County community with accountability and transparency by voluntarily submitting to external review and critique and engaging in ongoing evaluation and refinement of policies and procedures.
Johnson County Sheriff Brad Kunkel said, “Professionalism is a priority at the Johnson County Sheriff’s Office. To meet this standard every day, we ensure that we have the policies in place to fulfill this expectation. The Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program has taken our policy to a new level and reinforces our commitment to providing quality public safety. When this opportunity became available, Major Lamm took this project on without hesitation and never took his foot off the gas. He worked with key staff to move this project across the finish line in just a few months. I’m very proud of all the hard work by everyone involved.”
For more information about the Iowa Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, please visit https://www.iowapolicechiefs.com/ileap.