CASE #12 (Issue #67: May 1998)
Submitted by Captain E. M. Raub, Missouri State Highway Patrol
 When the Missouri State Highway Patrol entered the accreditation
process in 1990, it started conducting annual public opinion surveys to comply
with CALEA standards. On those surveys, we asked a number of questions
of current interest in addition to the basic questions required by the standard.
The information provided by survey responses has been a tremendous
help, particularly in seeding legislative changes and supporting our
police manpower allocation model.
On the 1997 public opinion survey, we asked the public if they
supported the patrol in being accredited by CALEA. The exact survey question
and response follows:
In 1992, the Missouri State Highway Patrol (MSHP) was accredited by
the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc.
The MSHP was the 10th state police/highway patrol agency accredited in
the U.S. To be accredited, a law enforcement agency has to meet a series
of standards related to efficient operation, accountability, professionalism
and quality of service to the public. Law enforcement accreditation is similar
to those established for educational and medical institutions. Maintaining compliance with accreditation standard
requires extra effort and payment of fees of approximately $5000.00 per year. Do you favor or oppose the
State Highway Patrol continuing to participate in this process?
Response: Percent:
Favor.......................................................... 66.7
Oppose....................................................... 7.7
No Opinion................................................ 25.6
Total........................................................... 100
It was somewhat disappointing, but predictable, that one fourth of the citizens didn't have an opinion. We
were favorably impressed that less than eight percent actually stated opposition to our investment in the
accreditation process. To our knowledge, this was the first time any agency had asked the citizens it serves about the value
of accreditation, and we thought you would like to know the positive results.
| 
