Accreditation
Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies
The Cleveland Police Department was recently re-accredited in Miami, Florida, through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) on November 21, 2015. The Cleveland Police Department is also accredited through the Tennessee Association of Chiefs of Police (TACP) since 2012.
CALEA History
CALEA was formed in 1979 through the combined efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the National Sheriff´s Association (NSA) and the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF). The commission was formed for two reasons: To develop a set of law enforcement standards, and to establish and administer an accreditation process through which law enforcement agencies could demonstrate voluntarily that they meet professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery.
Benefits
The benefits of being an accredited agency are:
- Greater accountability within the agency
- Controlled liability insurance costs
- Stronger defense against civil lawsuits
- Staunch support from government officials
- Increased community advocacy
Accreditation Process
The accreditation process involves a comprehensive self-assessment by the department of the 481 standards. The standards address six major law enforcement areas:
- Role, responsibilities and relationships with other agencies
- Organization, management and administration
- Personnel administration
- Law enforcement operations, operational support and traffic
- Prisoner and court related services
- Auxiliary and technical services
Award Prestige
Accreditation is a coveted award that symbolizes professionalism, excellence, and competence. Its requirements include:
- Written directives and training to inform employees about policies and practices
- Facilities and equipment to ensure employees safety
- Processes to safeguard employees' rights.