Established in 2001 by retired Winnipeg Police Service Chief of Police Herb Stephen, the Northwest Law Enforcement Academy is a registered post-secondary educational institution in the province of Manitoba.

The program at NWLEA is designed to provide an education specifically tailored towards developing the education, skills and character necessary to obtain employment within the law enforcement community.

The Academy’s Diploma Program is an accelerated one year program, equivalent to 2.5 years of post-secondary education. In 850 hours of in-person, intensive theoretical and practical instruction, students study topics such as: Criminal Investigations, Criminal Law, Criminology and Restorative Justice, Police Procedures, Police Report Writing, Major Crimes, Organized Crime, Crime Prevention, Interrogation and Interviewing Skills, Crime Scene Management, Diversity and Inclusion, Indigenous Awareness and Sensitivity, Physical Fitness, Ethics and Accountability, Mental Health, Firearms Safety and Police Defensive Tactics.

Graduates of the Academy are now employed in police and law enforcement agencies across Canada.