Organisation Johan van Lare elected AEPC vice president Written on Friday, October 24, 2025 Last month, Johan van Lare was elected vice president of the Association of European Police Colleges (AEPC), almost unanimously. The Head of the International Affairs department of the Netherlands Police Academy received 44 of the 45 votes. ‘A special experience.’ AEPC is the network of police colleges from all over Europe, supplemented with a number of other organizations, such as Europol, Interpol, Interpa (the International Association of Police Academies), and the European Police Academy CEPOL. ‘It’s a unique network in Europe for cooperation in the fields of training, operational policing, research, and science’, Johan says. ‘AEPC ensures that Police Academies of all member countries mutually share their and promotes harmonization in police training.’ Exiting challenge Johan has been the Netherlands Police Academy’s representative in AEPC since 2012. ‘So I have a lot of experience with this international network. In addition, the election has shown me that my professionalism and international knowledge of police training, science and research are appreciated: previously, I was on the AEPC Executive Committee and its Governing Board representing the Netherlands; now, I’ve been given the opportunity to act on behalf of 45 countries. I have always felt it would be great to take on this exciting challenge.’ It works both ways ‘The most important part of this job is networking’, Johan explains. ‘AEPC is a large network in which you have to be able to think on your feet. I can forge connections between countries in the fields of education, educational development, and research. If questions arise in various countries surrounding topics such as domestic violence, cybercrime, or Virtual Reality, then it is very easy for me to get a number of countries round the table to discuss possible approaches.’ ‘I may also get questions from the Netherlands Police Academy, for instance about how bachelor and master education is organized in other countries. I can then put those questions to various countries and get answers quickly. It works both ways: the Netherlands shares its knowledge with other countries and vice versa.’ New president In addition, every two years, AEPC members select three topics they jointly want to develop further. For 2026 and 2027, these topics are leadership, educational optimization, and mental health. Once a year, each member also organises an online programme or a meeting for all members. ‘But at present, the main challenge is getting a new president’, according to Johan. ‘The current AEPC president, Stefan Aegerter, will leave AEPC on 1 December, as he has a new job. The plan is to have a new president around March or April, and it’s up to us, vice presidents to make sure the entire process will run smoothly.’ Proud Johan was elected vice president for a four-year term, and he will perform this role alongside his job as Head of International Affairs. ‘I have discussed it with the Police Academy’s director, Leonard Kok. He fully supports my vice presidency and says that our police organisation is proud of my new role. It’s a good new impulse for me personally too.’