Candidates

The candidates below are running for the IACA Board positions of Vice President of Membership and Secretary. These roles include a three-year term. For more information or to interact with the candidates, visit the Elections Forum in Community (member login required).  

Voting Period:  September 8-October 8, 2025

Candidates are listed in alphabetical order by first name. Statements provided were optional and candidates had full creative freedom over content. 

VICE PRESIDENT OF MEMBERSHIP

Ashly Settles 

Crime Analyst
Fairfield (CA) Police Department

Statement

My name is Ashly Settles, and I am the Assistant Chair of the Membership Processing Committee. It is with genuine enthusiasm that I announce my candidacy for Vice President of Membership for the International Association of Crime Analysts.

Building on Existing Success While Embracing the Future Globally

My vision for the Vice President of Membership role is rooted in both continuity and innovation. I believe in continually expanding our association's international relationships by supporting and showcasing the incredible work of our members around the world.

At the annual IACA training conference in 2024, I had the unique opportunity to work alongside our Latin American members towards solving a jigsaw puzzle, view and ask questions of their work in crime analysis, speak with and sign the national flag of our Ukrainian members, and enjoy a fun conversation about teaching with one of our European members.

I genuinely believe in the value of encouraging connections between existing and new members while celebrating unique cultural differences through the shared lens of crime analysis. I look forward to working with our new International Development Committee Chair to support the continued growth of our membership and services. I envision a more transparent IACA, where the diverse fabric of our membership is highlighted through an enhanced IACA Esri hub, allowing us to better connect, collaborate, and share our unique contributions globally.

We have phenomenal training courses and an authentic certification program, both of which I have experienced firsthand. As a CLEA certified analyst, I am committed to building upon this existing foundation to embrace the latest advancements in crime analysis. This includes integrating insights from real-time centers, which are rapidly becoming a cornerstone of modern policing, and incorporating the upcoming release of the 4th edition IACA publication into our educational offerings, ensuring our members are always at the forefront of the field.

I offer my sincere appreciation to our dedicated committee chairs, and all the volunteers whose tireless efforts are the very reason IACA continues to thrive and set the standard for our profession. Your dedication is truly inspiring and the backbone of our success. I believe passionately in IACA's mission to provide training, networking, and professional opportunities to crime and intelligence analysts worldwide. I have devoted countless hours to building relationships with our 23 regional associations and look forward to working with our regional associations committee to assist with the onboarding of new regional groups.

A Foundation of Experience and Dedication

As Assistant Chair of the Membership Processing Committee, I possess a comprehensive understanding of our membership database and the intricate processes that ensure our association operates smoothly. In addition to daily processing, this role has provided me with a unique vantage point: listening to and analyzing the inquiries of our members to identify areas of improvement. Each month on average I respond to over 100 emails to members, usually within 24-48 hours of receipt, to provide efficient and professional service to our members. This hands-on experience has equipped me with the practical knowledge necessary to ensure seamless membership management, from onboarding new analysts to supporting our long-standing members. It has provided me with invaluable insight into the operational needs and desires of our organization and members.

My commitment to the profession of crime analysis extends beyond IACA. I've served as Secretary for the Bay Area Crime and Intelligence Analysts Association. This experience provided me with an understanding of member needs, regional dynamics, and the vital role that strong communication and organization play in fostering a thriving professional community. Furthermore, my experience teaching crime analysis courses has allowed me to directly engage with and contribute to the growth of aspiring analysts, fostering a deeper appreciation for the vital work we do.

A Leader Who Listens and Values

I believe in fostering an environment of collaboration and actively soliciting feedback. My priority will always be to support our entire membership and honor their input and desires for the association’s future. I am here to serve you, the members, and to ensure your voices are heard and acted upon.

I've experienced the profound impact of feeling supported, seen, and valued by IACA. The mentorship, the shared knowledge, and the sense of community within this association have been instrumental in my professional journey. This is what has inspired my desire to serve.

Your Voice Is Our Future

My experience, dedication, and forward-thinking approach will serve the IACA membership well. I am committed to expanding our global reach, enhancing transparency through our Esri hub, and ensuring our training remains cutting-edge by embracing new advancements like real-time centers and the 4th edition publication, all while prioritizing your voices and needs.

Your voice is vital to the future of IACA. I humbly request your support and your vote for Vice President of Membership. Together, we can continue to strengthen our association and elevate the profession of crime analysis for everyone.

Thank you for your consideration and your vote.

Click here for a PDF of Ashly's statement.

Cody Gabbard

Crime Data Analyst
Portland (OR) Police Bureau

Statement

Thank you for your time and I look forward to the opportunity to represent you all as the Vice President of Membership in the upcoming election. 

Data-informed and evidence-based policing strategies are at the core of everything we do as analysts, and that is also how I approach duties as a member and volunteer with IACA. This is the mindset I use when asking questions about how best to serve IACA and how I have developed my four main initiatives for how I would like to see the VP of Membership and the Executive Board continue to develop and thrive. Those initiatives include:

• Creating more opportunities for members to be involved and volunteer
• Enhancing our academic partnerships
• Continuing to lobby for the position of Crime Analyst in jurisdictions where they do not currently exist
• Increasing non-U.S. representation among IACA Committees

I have been fortunate enough to be a part of the Mentorship Committee as well as the Ethics and Elections Working Group in the past year. Positions on these groups can be competitive due to the amount of interest the membership has shown when there are open calls for volunteers. I would like to leverage this willingness of the membership to create more opportunities to be involved. There are a variety of ways to go about this, from expanding the Executive Board, adding more Chairs, to expanding or establish new Committees. I don’t believe in creating new positions for the sake of adding more bodies, but I do believe in empowering those with ideas to run with them. We know too well that we have relatively low turnout for voting in elections, so I think we need to make sure and include those who have expressed interest in serving the Association.

The increase in membership IACA has experienced since the onset of the pandemic (from a low of around 4,000 members, to now over 7,000) is commendable and reflective of both the growth of our field as well as the effectiveness of the Membership Committee. Continuing great customer service should be the top priority of the Membership Committee. A majority of our membership comes from law enforcement agencies, which will continue to be our main focus, but I would like to make additional efforts to incorporate more academics to join our ranks. Although many of our agencies are well equipped to conduct studies and implement evidence-based practices, some of the most impactful work in our field comes about when we collaborate with our partners in academia. I would like to explore ways to accomplish this, ranging from the potential creation of a Research Committee to assist in connecting departments with academics, to enhancing communication between researchers and agencies in targeted forums or formal outreach.

I think we can all agree that agencies with analysts see an immediate benefit in efficiency of processes, enhancement of investigations, and as the de-facto ‘brain trust’ of the department. In addition to targeted outreach to academia I would like to focus on campaigning for the creation of crime analyst positions in jurisdictions that do not have them. IACA leadership attends and participates in other conferences, such as the IACP, but I believe we need to find additional ways to lobby for the creation of new analyst positions. To better advocate on behalf of analysts to decision makers I have been working with several other members on an international survey which will be coming out within the next year. One of the intentions is to be able to use the results as a tool to share with the industry a ‘census’ of crime analysts. This will aid in providing data-driven facts about analysts based on type and geography, as well as providing specific insights into the benefits of IACA membership. This is just one way to be more targeted in our approach, and I will be looking for additional innovative strategies to make it clear that analysts are not just a necessary part of any organization fighting crime but should be involved in decision-making at the leadership level.

I feel strongly about having representation from as many countries as possible at the committee level, so would look to include additional Membership Committee members from non-U.S. countries. The creation of a chair of International Development in recent years has been a great start, so I would also like to solidify this position more fully and work closely with them to understand the needs of the international community and how we can best serve them. At minimum, a non-U.S. member should be actively involved and working with the Executive Board and the Committees, so I would like to field more ideas from the international members themselves to see how best to incorporate them into ongoing decisions and the direction of the Association.

Having gone to the national conference several times over the past several years as a speaker and attendee and spoken at my regional conference (NORCAN) this past summer, I have had the pleasure of speaking with a wide range of analysts and researchers. At the end of the day, the main reasons why individuals are members of IACA are to continue to develop their skills and coordinate and collaborate with other analysts. I believe these things should be at the forefront of any and all decisions by the Executive Board, and how I intend to operate. I also believe in the spirit of open and respectful debate. There are always going to be discussions about the best direction of IACA, and there will continue to be disagreements. Debate is a necessary and healthy way to come to the best conclusions, which should incorporate compromise. Something I found when working with the IACA Working Group this summer is that there was a wide range of opinions, many very strongly held, but we were able to provide concise and targeted recommendations through a democratic process. That is also how I will approach this leadership role; with spirited debate, with respect, and with the best interests of the membership from an evidence-based lens. Thank you for your time, and I look forward to meeting many of you in the upcoming months and years.

Click here for a PDF of Cody's statement.  

Noah Fritz

Professor of Practice
University of Akron (OH)/Akron Police Department/Northern Ohio Crime Consortium

Statement

I am running for Vice President of Membership with the primary objective of serving you the members.

As a smaller organization in the past, the IACA was able to operate informally and through various grapevines (e.g., regional associations and all-inclusive business meetings). Today, those days are over with our growing membership and the complexity and dynamic aspects of our services. The future requires that we leverage technology and find ways to give all interested members a voice. Self- governance and active involvement are how professional organizations thrive. The IACA is at a critical juncture and we must be able to adapt and find ways to continuously improve. The IACA provides outstanding products and services, but we have reached a critical mass that must be addressed. A vote for me is a vote for innovation and inclusiveness. A vote for me is a vote for you and new ways to guarantee your voice will be heard among the growing membership. Our collective vision is better than a limited representative approach.

I humbly ask for your vote for VP of Membership. Either way, please take the time to vote for the candidate that best represents your vision for our profession. Have a great day!

Click here for a PDF of Noah's statement.

SECRETARY 

Sabrina Potts

Crime Analyst
Shawnee (KS) Police Department

Statement

 I was appointed IACA Secretary in January 2025 and am eager to continue advancing the important projects already in motion.  With over 13 years as full-time analyst and over a decade as IACA’s Webinar Coordinator, I have helped deliver annual webinar series, virtual conferences, and specialized trainings to keep members informed and connected.

My leadership experience includes serving as President, VP-Administration, and VP-Membership for MARCAN, where I led the return of its annual conference in 2023 after a decade-long hiatus.  I have represented IACA at national conferences, worked with the LATAM group to expand virtual training, and regularly advocate for analysts and the value of IACA membership.

I am committed to completing key initiatives, including launching a monthly membership newsletter, updating bylaws for our 7,200+ members, and finalizing recommendations from the Elections and Ethics Working Group.  One of my primary goals for the upcoming term is to update the analyst staffing equations, originally established in 2004, to reflect the demands and technological advancements of today’s analyst role.  I would be honored to earn your vote to continue serving our members and advancing IACA’s mission.

Click here for a PDF of Sabrina's statement. 

The voting period will open September 8. 

For more information or to interact with the candidates, visit the Elections Forum in Community (member login required). 

The Elections Committee will receive and respond to any questions or complaints about election procedures at [email protected].