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MESSAGE FROM THE CHAIR
CALEA, A NOT FOR PROFIT CORPORATION PROVIDING ACCREDITATION SERVICES TO PUBLIC SAFETY AGENCIES
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.
The founding associations, the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP), the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), the Police Executive Research Forum (PERF), and the National Sheriffs’ Association (NSA) are first and foremost in CALEA’s creation and support through their respective membership, as well as appointing authority for CALEA Commissioners. Representatives from these associations serve on numerous ad hoc committees that play a vital role in CALEA’s ongoing effort to improve services for our clients.
Our Commissioners, present and former, with their diversity of background, disciplines, and professional experience, provide a great service in governing CALEA. Our coalitions and networks provide training and assistance on a local level that greatly enhances our ability to assist client agencies. As we have improved their training, our assessors are better able to assess our client agencies, resulting in greater uniformity of process. We are forging new relationships through our Alliance Program, which partners with local providers of credentialing services.
We have also expanded our services with the addition of the Public Safety Communications Accreditation Program, a joint effort with the Association of Public-Safety Communications Officials International (APCO International); the Public Safety Training Academy Accreditation Program; and the CALEA Recognition Program, a credentialing service designed for smaller-sized agencies. The Commission recently launched the CALEA Accreditation Support Fund, which offers grants to eligible organizations seeking initial accreditation in one of our three accreditation programs, as a way to extend an opportunity to agencies that would not otherwise be financially able to become accredited. Last, but not least, the CALEA staff, though small in number, serves the Commission well and continues to develop ways to improve services to our clients.
We have, indeed, come a long way since 1979, and the future looks bright. Our standards are the basis of our services and it is vital that we remain current with today’s issues. We are currently conducting a comprehensive review of CALEA standards and processes with the assistance of a cross section of professionals from various accredited agencies. The credibility of our process is of utmost importance, so we invest heavily in the reviewing, revising, adding, and in some cases, deleting of standards.
We are professionals employed by public safety agencies. There is no higher calling than that of public service. Ethics, Integrity, and Trust are synonymous with our profession. As stewards of the Commission’s resources, we assert our rights as it relates to the ownership of our standards and take appropriate measures to protect them. As we carry out our responsibilities in a spirit of cooperation, we seek to work with individuals and organizations that share our goals of excellence in public service. We thank all of our supporters and invite your comments or recommendations as we continue to provide credentialing services.
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