Department Accreditation

Canton Fire Department Accreditation

This year the Canton Fire Department applied to begin the accreditation process through the Commission on Fire Accreditation International (CFAI). If approved, Canton could be the first municipality in Michigan with an accredited fire department. Updates will be posted as the department moves through process.

Canton Police Department International Accreditation

In 2007, the Canton Police Department first received full accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is considered to be a highly-prized recognition of law enforcement excellence and must be re-certified every 3 years.

In 2014, the Canton Police Department applied for re-accreditation and passed with high honors. Canton continues to hold the title of largest municipal law enforcement agency in Michigan to be nationally accredited.

CALEA Badge

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.