Cornelius Police Department was awarded international Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) on December 4, 2004.  There are five major steps in the Accreditation process:  application, self-assessment, on-site assessment, Commission review and maintaining compliance and Reaccreditation.   The standards address nine major law enforcement subjects:  role, responsibilities, and relationships with other agencies; organization, management and administration; personnel structure and process; operations and operational support; traffic operations, prisoner and court-related activities, and auxiliary and technical services. 

The CALEA Accreditation program and files are maintained by the Chief of Police and the Accreditation Manager, but the task is far from a two person show.  Each standard specifically addresses some aspect of the day to day operations of the police department.  It is the responsibility of every member of the Police Department to complete their tasks in accordance with the department’s policy.  CALEA also requires periodic reports to be completed. These reports have been assigned to various supervisory personnel within the department.  The reports include analysis, summaries and evaluations that must be done on a time-sensitive schedule.  The Accreditation Manager ensures these reports are done and then files them in the corresponding standard file where they are stored.  Every three years an agency is offered the opportunity to reaccredit themselves.  Reaccreditation is awarded after the Commission re-evaluates the agencies compliance through an on-site assessment.   Accredited agencies are not only expected to maintain their compliance with those standards they were accredited under, but also are required to file an annual report that attests to continuing compliance.  Maintaining this status requires serious commitment and energy from the members of the police department as well as the Town administration. 

TOP TEN BENEFITS FOR ACCREDITATION/RECOGNITION

1. Ensures a sense of well being and safety in the hearts and minds of the community.
2. Provides dollar and cents return on liability insurance coverage.
3. Makes the jurisdiction more attractive to economic and community development.
4. Assures government leaders of law enforcement quality.
5. Provides international recognition and a venue for employee pride and morale.
6. Gives agency the ability to analyze its delivery of services; measure its culpability; administer consistent discipline; and insulate against civil litigation.
7. Provides assurance that the organization is trained and functioning in line with policies and procedures.
8. Ensures that policies and procedures are solidly documented in writing.
9. Reinforces confidences that the agency is operating at an acceptable level of standards for the profession.
10. Facilitates a solid review of the agency’s status and readiness.