CALEA Accreditation
WHAT IS CALEA?
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) was established in 1979 by The International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs’ Association, and Police Executive Research Forum as an independent accrediting authority. Accreditation by this organization is a highly prized recognition of law enforcement professional excellence.
To achieve accredited status, the Fresno Police Department developed compliance with 388 internationally accepted standards for the operation of police organizations. The assessment team examined all aspects of the Agency’s policies and procedures, management, operations, and support services. Participation in the CALEA process is voluntary, yet important. It assures the citizens of Fresno that their police department is among the best in the nation. Additionally, the Department must now maintain compliance with the identified standards and report annually to CALEA. In April, 2008 the Department must complete a re-accreditation process very similar to the initial accreditation process.
On July 30, 2005, at ceremonies held in Boston, the Fresno Police Department received accreditation by CALEA. Currently, the Fresno Police Department is the largest municipal law enforcement agency in California to achieve this award. As of January, 2008, only fourteen other agencies in California have become accredited through CALEA, with four others currently in the self-assessment phase.
Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer stated, “I am proud to say that our agency is now within an elite group of law enforcement agencies across the United States to have received accreditation status, as fewer than 4% of law enforcement agencies have completed this process. We also have the distinct honor of being the largest municipal law enforcement agency in the state of California to receive accreditation status. I am hopeful that CALEA accreditation will spread throughout California in the years to come, resulting in increased professionalism in the law enforcement community.”