| Federal Law Enforcement Training Center | |
| Seal: | FLETC seal.png |
| Seal Size: | 140 px |
| Seal Alt: | Federal Law Enforcement Training Center official seal |
| Picture Width: | 220px |
| Picture Caption: | Entrance to FLETC Headquarters |
| Jurisdiction: | Federal government of the United States |
| Headquarters: | Glynco, Georgia |
| Employees: | 1,068 |
| Budget: | US$242 million (2017) |
| Chief1 Name: | Thomas J. Walters[1] |
| Chief1 Position: | Director |
| Parent Department: | U.S. Department of Homeland Security |
The Federal Law Enforcement Training Centers (FLETC,[2] pronounced) serves as an interagency law enforcement training body for 105 United States government federal law enforcement agencies.[3] The stated mission of FLETC is to "...train those who protect our homeland". Through the Rural Policing Institute (RPI) and the Office of State and Local Training, it provides tuition-free and low-cost training to state, local, campus and tribal law enforcement agencies.[4]
Studies conducted in the late 1960s revealed an urgent need for training by professional instructors using modern training facilities and standardized course content. Congress authorized funds for planning and constructing the Consolidated Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (CFLETC). In 1970, the CFLETC was established as a bureau of the U.S. Department of the Treasury (Treasury Order #217) and began training operations in temporary facilities in Washington, D.C.[5]
The permanent location of the center was originally planned for the Washington, D.C., area. However, a three-year construction delay resulted in Congress requesting that surplus federal installations be surveyed to determine if one could serve as the permanent site. In May 1975, after a review of existing facilities, the former Naval Air Station Glynco was selected. In the summer of 1975, the newly renamed Federal Law Enforcement Training Center (FLETC) relocated from Washington, D.C., and began training in September of that year at Glynco, Georgia. Glynco is the headquarters site and main campus for the FLETC and houses the senior leadership of the organization.[5]
On March 1, 2003, FLETC formally transferred from the Treasury Department to the newly established U.S. Department of Homeland Security (DHS), along with some 22 other federal agencies and entities. The move reflected the centrality of the FLETC's mission in support of the unified homeland security effort.
The FLETC headquarters are at the former Naval Air Station Glynco in the Glynco area of unincorporated Glynn County, Georgia, near the port city of Brunswick, Georgia, and about halfway between Savannah, Georgia, and Jacksonville, Florida.[6] The FLETC Orlando team located at Naval Air Warfare Center Training Systems Division in Orlando, Florida trains with branches of the United States Armed Forces evaluating new and existing training technologies for their ability to meet law enforcement training needs. The Los Angeles Regional Maritime Law Enforcement Training Center in Los Angeles, California has worked a partnership with FLETC along with the Los Angeles County Sheriff's Department along with state and local agencies to develop comprehensive maritime training. FLETC has oversight and program management responsibilities for the International Law Enforcement Academies (ILEA) in Gaborone, Botswana, San Salvador, El Salvador, and Lima, Peru. It also supports training at ILEAs in Budapest, Hungary, and Bangkok, Thailand.
The FLETC's parent department, the DHS, supervises its administrative and financial activities.[7] As an interagency training organization, FLETC has professionals from diverse backgrounds to serve on its faculty and staff. Approximately one-third of the instructor staff are permanent FLETC employees. The remainder are federal officers and investigators on short-term assignment from their parent organizations. Agencies take part in curriculum review and development conferences and help develop policies and directives.
Partner organizations have input regarding training issues and functional aspects of the Center. The current partner organizations are:[8]