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NEWS RELEASE October 2000 The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. has introduced two new and innovative programs designed to recognize professionalism and excellence in law enforcement. After a two-year study by a special task force made up of law enforcement officials from the United States and Canada, the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA® ), Board of Commissioners introduced two new ground-breaking programs--The CALEA Recognition Program and the CALEA Alliance Program--at their Summer Meeting in Schaumburg, Illinois, on July 28, 2000. CALEA was created through the combined efforts of the four major law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. 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. Commission Chair William Miller, Elgin, Illinois, Chief of Police, endorses the new programs stating, "The Alliance and Recognition Programs will enhance law enforcement by consolidating efforts to professionalize. The result is that everyone benefits. The states and provinces can demonstrate their professionalism, smaller agencies have a device by which to improve and be recognized, and duplication and confusion is reduced." The new programs will allow CALEA to establish formal relationships with existing state and province accreditation organizations. CALEA Commissioner Steve Monier, recently retired Goffstown, New Hampshire, Chief of Police, who chaired the task force, asserts, "States and provinces with accreditation programs that want to be in an alliance with CALEA will have their programs reviewed to ensure their standards meet CALEA’s standards intent. Moreover, biennial reviews will ensure that the integrity of the alliance, and the relevance of its process and programs are preserved." Allied state and province programs will administer the CALEA Recognition Program, including assessments and compliance monitoring, in conjunction with their state/province program. The CALEA Recognition Program contains 95 CALEA standards that reflect high liability and legal issues, critical management practices, life, health, and safety issues. Compliance with these standards will result in the achievement of a new CALEA award called "CALEA Recognized." "Recognized" agencies, who strive for CALEA Accreditation by addressing the remaining 344 accreditation standards, will receive 44% savings on program fees. This two-step process will be advantageous to smaller agencies with limited resources that desire to participate in a professional credentialing program before seeking accreditation. Click HERE for more information about the CALEA Recognition and Alliance Programs or contact CALEA at 1-800-368-3757.
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