CALEA® is dedicated to the improvement of public safety agencies and recognizes excellence through voluntary credentialing programs.

CALEA® encourages all public safety agencies to accept the challenge of international accreditation/recognition.

As United States Attorney General John Ashcroft stated at our July 2001 Conference in St. Louis, Missouri, “Standards Build Trust.” While the Commissioners Honor Roll of agencies accredited or recognized continues to grow, we in the public safety arena must also continue to “build trust” by striving for excellence in what we do. more

While it is common for law enforcement agencies to provide citizens’ academies for their communities, an independent 9-1-1 center, like the Santa Cruz Consolidated Emergency Communications Center, was challenged to find a similar forum. By establishing our own Citizens’ Academy for 9-1-1, the Santa Cruz Consolidated Emergency Communications Center (SCCECC) is able to reach the community and promote a better understanding of how the 9-1-1 center operates. more

Guiding Principle 3.3 Revised
At the July Commission Conference in Buffalo, New York, the Standards Review and Interpretation Committee (SRIC) Focus Group was tasked with revising the language in Guiding Principles For Applicant Agencies and Assessors 3.3 concerning written directives as the sole proof of compliance. The Commission recognized that some agencies were having difficulty distinguishing between supplying documentation as “proof” of standards compliance for initial assessments and renewal assessments. more

"Accreditation Works" presents first-hand testimonies of how accreditation positively affects an agency or community. These success stories can often go unheralded, so send your experiences to CALEA to be included. more

CALEA Assessors Given “EARS”!

Announcing the Electronic Assessment Reporting System

CALEA Program Manager Ted LeMay has developed a new computer software program for CALEA assessors called the Electronic Assessment Reporting System – EARS. It was designed to assist the assessment team in gathering information for the preparation of the on-site final report. The assessors are the “eyes and ears” of the Commission while on an on-site, thus the acronym, EARS. more

Off-road equipment, such as that used in construction, agriculture, and road maintenance, is often difficult to investigate.  In many cases, suspicious equipment is not recovered simply because an officer does not have the necessary technical knowledge to approach a piece of equipment and initiate an investigation.  more

BUFFALO CONFERENCE REVIEW
 Magnificently situated at the confluence of Lake Erie and the Buffalo and Niagara Rivers, Buffalo is one unique city. The Commission was privileged to return to Buffalo after nine years away. CALEA found the Buffalo-Niagara Region with its exceptional theater opportunities, first class restaurants, and one of the world’s wonders- Niagara Falls, even better than before! more

Click here for a list of agencies accredited, reaccredited, and recognized in Buffalo, New York

CASF Grant Reminder
As a reminder to all perspective agencies seeking initial accreditation, applications for the 2005 grants from the CALEA Agency Support Fund (CASF) must be submitted between September 1 and December 31, 2004. Grants are available to qualified law enforcement, and public safety communications agencies, as well as public safety training academies. more

Exemplary Project
Advanced Language Program

During the mid-1990’s, the City of Lexington, Kentucky experienced a significant increase in Spanish speaking residents. The language barrier and lack of understanding of the culture of these new residents created a difficult environment for police to provide quality services. Although several short-term strategies, such as survival Spanish, were implemented, these efforts proved to have minimal success. Until the Spanish speaking proficiency of officers and telecommunicators could be increased, the agency subscribed to a 24-hour telephone translation service. more
 

Message from the Chair  Jim O'Dell
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA®) has served public safety agencies for 25 years. As a not for profit corporation, the support of many professionals and organizations is imperative for CALEA to effectively provide services to agencies who voluntarily enter into an agreement. We are fortunate to receive pro bono support from professionals who believe standards are needed for public safety agencies. This has allowed us the opportunity to provide and improve our credentialing programs during the past quarter century, while not increasing our service fees for the past ten years with the exception of direct cost for travel and lodging for on-site assessments.  more

The person who said, “A picture is worth a thousand words,” did not give ample recognition to the awesome power of the spoken word. “Ask not what your country can do for you,” “I have a dream,” and so many other famous words and spoken phrases ring in our ears still today. Words have motivated nations to war, or pulled up by their bootstraps entire countries that appeared to be on their last legs. The ammunitions of the street officer are 38’s, 9mm’s, and 45’s, and the officers traditionally do a great job with these tools. more

CALEA TRI-ARC Excellence Award
The CALEA Commissioners’ Award Committee has selected CALEA TRI-ARC Excellence Award as the name for the new award to be given to entities that, concurrently, hold all three CALEA accreditation awards: Law Enforcement Accreditation, Public Safety Communications Accreditation, and Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation. “TRI” reflects the three accreditation programs and “ARC” symbolizes the synergistic power and light created as the result of an unusual achievement. more

Insurance Consortium Endorses CALEA Accreditation - Offering Financial Incentives to Member Cities
For many years, CALEA Accredited law enforcement agencies have realized the benefits associated with such an effort are significant and many. From achieving added protections from civil lawsuits, to enhancing operations by ensuring that agency personnel are armed with clear and unambiguous policies and procedures, accreditation serves as a conduit that brings agencies to a level of excellence that has come to be expected of law enforcement in the 21st Century. more

Your Commissioner-Ron Ace
Ron Ace’s career as a law enforcement professional began more than 30 years ago. Ron is a native of New York City, and prior to beginning his career in law enforcement, he served in the U.S. Marine Corps from 1967 through 1971. He served a tour of duty in Viet Nam in 1969, attached to a Huey Gunship helicopter squadron as a door-gunner. He has been with the Concord (CA) Police Department since 1975, having previously served as a Deputy Sheriff with the Alameda County (CA) Sheriff’s Office. more

Commemorate CALEA's 25^th Anniversary at the Winter Conference in Austin, Texas
Known for its casual and playful nature, Austin is the playground of Texas. Situated at the center of the Lone Star State, it stands as the gateway to the Texas Hill Country and the Highland Lakes. It’s hip, trendy, and high-tech. more

WELCOME TO CALEA
Between May 1, 2004 and August 31, 2004, the following agencies joined the CALEA family by signing initial contracts: more