ALEAP Welcomes Marcella Garcia as Full-Time Program Manager Beginning June 1, 2025
We are pleased to announce that Marcella Garcia will be stepping into the role of Program Manager for the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (ALEAP), effective June 1, 2025. Marcella’s appointment marks a significant step forward for ALEAP as we continue to enhance statewide support, training, and coordination for accredited agencies.
In her role as Program Manager, Marcella will be responsible for providing direct support to participating agencies, coordinating the work of our Assessment Verification Analysts, and facilitating timely and accurate communication across all agencies, Accreditation Managers, and the Coalition for Arizona Police Accreditation (CAPA). She will also lead onboarding for new agencies, organize annual training conferences, and maintain vital documentation, timelines, and reporting standards. Her work will be instrumental in ensuring our program remains consistent, responsive, and aligned with best practices in law enforcement accreditation.
Marcella brings with her nearly three decades of law enforcement experience, beginning in 1996 with the Mesa Police Department. Her diverse background includes assignments in recruiting, missing persons investigations, SWAT, internal affairs, and public information. In 2020, she led Mesa PD to accredited status, launching a new chapter in her career focused on accreditation excellence.
Her dedication has earned her the Arizona Law Enforcement Accreditation Manager of the Year award, and her impact on ALEAP is already well recognized. She has served as ALEAP’s Compliance Coordinator, Tribal Liaison, and Assessment Verification Coordinator. Additionally, Marcella has played a critical role on the board of the Coalition for Arizona Police Accreditation (CAPA) as Vice President and Mentorship Chairperson. As both a mock and on-site assessor, she is known for her professionalism, depth of knowledge, and mentorship mindset.
Marcella is a certified AZPOST General Instructor and holds a Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice with a Minor in Sociology from California State University, Los Angeles.
Her experience, dedication to service, and unwavering commitment to accreditation make her the ideal person to lead ALEAP operations as Program Manager. Please join us in welcoming Marcella to this vital full-time role as we continue advancing the standards of law enforcement accreditation across Arizona!
Please note, Marcella’s new email address is marcellagarcia@azchiefsofpolice.org