Welcome back to Beyond the Checklist, the official podcast of the National Association for Accreditation Leadership — where we explore how accreditation drives reform, trust, and excellence in public safety.

In this episode, I’m joined by Dr. Sonya Johnson from the Savannah Police Department — a dynamic leader and expert in organizational culture, higher education, and accreditation.

Together, we dive into the power of culture and accountability, how accreditation can be re-imagined as a tool for continuous improvement, and why leadership’s “why” behind accreditation makes all the difference.

Dr. Johnson shares incredible insights on aligning citizen-centric service with internal accountability, building organizational buy-in, and transforming accreditation from a checkbox exercise into a cornerstone of professional excellence.

Stay tuned — this conversation will challenge the way you think about culture, compliance, and the true purpose of accreditation in public safety.