For Immediate Release: April 3, 2023

ALEXANDRIA, VA – After working together with law enforcement leaders from across the world over the last three months, Lieutenant Michael May, of the Alexandria Police Department graduated from Cohort 2023-01 of the DC Police Leadership Academy(DCPLA) hosted by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD).

Cohort 2023-01 was the inaugural cohort of the DCPLA program. The three-week program, broken into two sessions, comprised approximately 70 participants from across the US and included representatives from Germany, Canada, the Netherlands, and England. Participants engaged in shaping the future of policing by developing their personal leadership abilities through discourse and interactive activities.

Lieutenant May is a highly experienced law enforcement officer with over 25 years of service in the Alexandria Police Department. Throughout his distinguished career, he has demonstrated exceptional performance in various units, including patrol, traffic safety, community engagement, commander of the APD’s Hostage Negotiation Team, and was even awarded Officer of the Year when he was a School Resource Officer. Additionally, he is a distinguished graduate of the FBI National Academy's Session 273, where he further honed his leadership and tactical skills. Currently, Lieutenant May serves as a watch commander where he is responsible for ensuring operational efficiency and effective deployment of officers to maximize public safety. In his spare time, Lieutenant May volunteers as a mentor to young children. Outside of work, he is a dedicated family man who has lived in Alexandria for 15 years.

The goal of the DC Police Leadership Academy is to develop a strong cadre of supervisors who are adaptable, creative, and motivate others. DCPLA develops leaders who demonstrate high standards of integrity, trust, openness, humility, and respect. The program facilitates a culture of positive police leaders that understand the profession of law enforcement beyond their assigned role- leaders that create and maintain a sense of purpose and innovation in their agencies.

“I am confident the leadership academy will continue to set our future police leaders up for continued advancement and success in any public safety environment,” said MPD Chief of Police Robert J. Contee, III.

“We are proud of Lt. May, and his dedication to becoming better at every level, we look forward to seeing him put into action some of the things he’s learned over the last few months,” said APD Assistant Chief Easton McDonald.

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For APD media inquiries, contact Marcel Bassett, Public Information Officer, at Marcel.Bassett@alexandriava.gov or 703.746.6600. 

This press release is available at:  Alexandriava.gov/go/4497