Organizations
CALEA was founded in 1979 by several professional law enforcement organizations including:
- IACP - International Association of Chiefs of Police
- NOBLE - National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives
- NSA - National Sheriffs' Association
- PERF - Police Executive Research Forum
Goals
The goals of CALEA were to:
- Boost citizen and staff confidence in the agencies
- Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices
- Formalize essential management procedures
- Improve service delivery
- Solidify inter-agency cooperation and coordination
- Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities
Additional Benefits
In addition to recognition for excellence, CALEA accreditation provides agencies with numerous benefits including:
- Controlled liability insurance costs
- Greater accountability with the agency
- Increased community advocacy
- Stronger defense against lawsuits and citizen complaints
The accreditation process has also provided the department with an in-depth evaluation of their operations and provided greater accountability within the organization. The police department will continue to maintain compliance with the 446 standards necessary for accreditation, and will apply for re-accreditation every 3 years as required by CALEA regulations.
Visit CALEA for more information on accreditation.