STAFF REPORT :::
The Griffin Police Department has received its fifth certification from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies Inc. (CALEA).
According to a press release issued by the Griffin Police Department, the accreditation was given to the agency due to the dedication to the program and under the direction and guidance of Chief Mike Yates.
This fifth accreditation was received during the fall CALEA conference Nov. 16, in Covington, Ky.
CALEA was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of major law enforcement executive associations – International Association Chiefs of Police (IACP), National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), National Sheriff’s Association (NSA) and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
CALEA’s primary purpose is to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining a comprehensive body of law enforcement standards, establishing and administering an accreditation process and recognizing professional excellence.
Of 18,000, less than 800 are CALEA accredited.
“CALEA accreditation requires an agency to develop a comprehensive, well-thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel and provides the necessary reports and analysis to the CEO to make fact-based, informed management decisions,” the press release stated. “The accreditation strengthens the agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly defines authority, performance, and responsibilities. The CALEA process for agencies is a four (4) year commitment. Agencies must apply to the Commission to be considered. During the first three years, the agency files are reviewed through a web-based site by compliance service members (CSM’s) of CALEA. The agency has to provide proofs for 484 applicable standards tracking the department’s performance.”
Accreditation requires the department’s accreditation manager to provide consistent re-accreditation maintenance on those standards throughout the four-year process. The department must also have a reliable system for ensuring that periodic reports, analysis, reviews and other activities mandated by CALEA are accomplished during the re-accreditation standards period. Those activities are the focal point of the re-accreditation assessment, officials said.
The GPD in July prepared for the on-site CALEA assessment.
Assessors spent four days at the GPD reviewing files, speaking with citizens, riding with officers, observing static display, conducting a tour of the entire department, interviewing staff including both sworn and non-sworn employees, visiting the Spalding 911 Center and observing shift briefings.
When the on-site assessment was completed, CALEA assessors reported to the commission. In the extensive report, the assessors recommended that the GPD is in compliance and requested the department receive its re-accreditation award as an example of the agency’s commitment to the CALEA standard of excellence.
“The Griffin Police Department would not be able to achieve such a prestigious award were it not for the dedication and effort of Accreditation Manager Linda Lash supported by all 80 sworn and 12 non-sworn personnel, who provide the outstanding professional service to the community each and every day,” Yates said.
