The International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) today announced its partnership with The Response Network (TRN), of Hanover, N.H., to make distance learning more accessible and affordable for law enforcement agencies.

Through the partnership, IACP and TRN will develop and host its first distance learning portal. As the portal evolves it will feature both assisted and non-assisted courses, video conferencing, webinars, and social networking areas, as well as news and information sections.

"Because of time and budget limitations that many law enforcement agencies face, distance learning allows officers immediate access to a variety of educational opportunities from their desktop computers," says Joseph C. Carter, chief of the MBTA Transit Police Department and president of the IACP. "Throughout our 114-year history, we have remained committed to serving the law enforcement community; this partnership with The Response Network is the next logical step to better serve the law enforcement community and maintain our commitment to high standards."

"We intend to create a portal for the IACP community that will set the standard for online learning for all first responder agencies around the world," The Response Network President & CEO Bradley J. Naples said today. "This is a world-class partnership that will deliver online training solutions that allow law enforcement agencies to achieve and maintain an affordable augmentation of existing training. We live in very challenging times that require all of us to share information with each other on a 24/7 schedule. Real-time information is now the only information that matters."

The IACP and The Response Network will introduce a sample of the courseware at the IACP's annual conference in New Orleans in October.

For more information, visit www.theiacp.org.