Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network (ALEAN) is a Texas nonprofit corporation incorporated in the State of Texas under the Texas Business Organizations Code: Title 2; Chapter 22 and is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) as an Internal Revenue Code (IRC) 501(c) 6 Organization.
ALEAN’S HISTORY
In the fall of 1988 law enforcement officials from the Port Authority of New York/New Jersey met with representatives from Interpol to discuss the possibility of forming an organization designed to facilitate the exchange of information concerning terrorism and emerging criminal trends associated with airport operations. From that discussion, the Airport Law Enforcement Agencies Network, a not for profit organization, was formed in April 1990.
Most of the charter participating agencies were located at the largest CAT X airports, with the main problems of concern being distraction crimes and auto thefts. Since those early years ALEAN has expanded to over one hundred U.S. airport Regular Membership agencies and foreign Associate Membership agencies in Canada and the United Kingdom. Many governmental law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, TSA, U.S. Secret Service and federal agencies from around the world hold Adjunct Membership.
WHAT WE DO
ALEAN holds member conferences in the Spring and Fall of each year to discuss business and provide training, and conducts monthly membership teleconference calls. Over the years ALEAN has played a significant role in ensuring a successful 1994 World Cup Soccer Tournament in the United States, developed a model partnership with the federal government with the National Explosives Detection Canine Program, managed the airport community’s post 9-11 law enforcement response, initiated a national aviation law enforcement benchmarking project, put in place an intelligence sharing network for airport criminal investigators and an administrative information sharing network, helped local agencies develop and share model best practices programs, and assisted with the development and integration of public policy related to aviation law enforcement.
ALEAN partners with the American Association of Airport Executives (AAAE) and Airports Council International (ACI) to address issues vital to our industry. One of the most important issues ALEAN is working on today is the development and economical delivery of training programs for airport police leaders. In the post 9-11 world it is critical that public safety agencies work together, on a real time basis and with utmost efficiency, to remain ahead of the latest challenges. ALEAN is committed to be a role model in that arena.