Accreditation

CALEA Accreditation Public Comment PortalCALEA Opens in new window

The purpose of this public portal is to receive comments regarding an agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the participating agency with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence. 

CALEA Accreditation Public Comment Portal

IMPORTANT: CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes.  Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.  

Commission for Accredited Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), was established as an independent accrediting authority in 1979  by the four major law enforcement membership associations:  International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National  Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National  Sheriffs' Association (NSA); and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The Executive Directors of these four associations appoint members to  the Commission annually; an endorsement requires a majority vote for  each appointment.

The Commission has 21 members; 11 members are law enforcement  practitioners; the remaining 10 members are selected from the public and  private sectors. Commissioners are appointed to a term of three years.  The position of Commissioner is voluntary and receives no salary,  although travel and per diem expenses are provided when conducting  Commission business.

CALEA maintains a small, professional staff managed by an Executive  Director. The staff conducts all administrative and operational duties as directed by the Commission. Commission staff is available to assist  applicant and accredited agencies through a toll-free telephone number.  CALEA produces a newsletter and offers workshops to explain the  accreditation process and standards during the Commission Conference  held three times annually.

The Commission's Authority: CALEA derives its  general authority from the four major law enforcement membership  associations mentioned above. Their members represent approximately 80%  of the law enforcement profession in this nation. The Commission derives  its accreditation authority from those agencies that voluntarily  participate in the accreditation program.

The Purpose of the Commission: The overall purpose  of the Commission's accreditation program is to improve delivery of law  enforcement service by offering a body of standards, developed by law  enforcement practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date law  enforcement topics. It recognizes professional achievements by offering  an orderly process for addressing and complying with applicable  standards.

The Voluntary Nature of the Accreditation Program: Successful  completion of the accreditation program requires commitment from all  levels of the organization, starting with the chief executive officer.  To foster commitment, a decision to participate should be voluntary. To  this end, the Commission insures that law enforcement accreditation™ is  and will continue to be a voluntary program.

Benefits: Besides the recognition of obtaining  international excellence, the primary benefits of accreditation include  controlled liability insurance costs, administrative improvements,  greater accountability from supervisors, increased governmental and  community support.

Police Department Involvement: The Port Orange Police Department has been an internationally accredited agency through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) since  2004. The Department has been accredited with Excellence, the highest  level of recognition available.