Executive Credential in Police Leadership

The Excellence in Policing & Public Safety (EPPS) Program is a legislatively-funded effort to assist South Carolina law enforcement agencies, advance the police profession, and enhance the delivery of public safety services through collaborative training, assistance, research, and community partnerships.  By developing state-of-the-art knowledge, skills, and attitudes to equitably advance public safety in South Carolina and beyond, we can establish our state as a model for law enforcement training, education, and police research across the country.

In support of these goals, we are pleased to host the Executive Credential in Police Leadership (ECPL) program.  The ECPL was designed with extensive input from public safety professionals around South Carolina to be a rigorous, evidence-based training program that empowers current and rising law enforcement executives to lead their agencies now and into the future. Built around effective adult learning principles, the ECPL provides cutting edge insight that we are constantly refining based on feedback from earlier cohorts.

EPPS is currently preparing to launch Cohort 4, which will be made up of sixteen (16) current command staff and command staff eligible public safety leaders who can commit to this intensive (8) eight-month program.  The program will meet once per month, for 3-4 days per session, from April 2026 through November 2026.  Over that time, participants will explore principles of leadership and management, communications, co-production in policing, civil rights, evidence-based policing, and a range of other topics with a highly interactive, hands-on, practical approach. Learners must commit to the monthly in-person sessions, as well as several hours of pre-course learning before each session. Selected candidates must commit to attending the entire program, and agency heads must support that commitment.

Please note that while the ECPL program is academically rigorous and requires active student engagement, it does not confer college credit. However, participants who successfully complete the program will receive 240 hours of South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy credit.

There is no cost for South Carolina public safety professionals to participate in the ECPL program.  Agencies will be responsible for any travel costs associated with the training (per diem, hotel, mileage/fuel). Applications are currently being accepted on an invitation-only basis but please check sign up below to be alerted of future opportunities.