Executive Director’s Corner
Sylvester Daughtry, Jr.
As was reported in the last issue of the CALEA Update (#89, October 2005), the Commission accepted and approved at its Summer Conference in Boston, Massachusetts, the recommendations concerning the CALEA Alliance, CALEA Recognition, and Recognition Through Alliance (RTA) Programs made by the ad hoc committee chaired by Commissioner John D. Glover.
The CALEA Recognition and RTA Programs were designed as stepping-stones to CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation™ by permitting small agencies with limited resources to obtain an initial level of professional credentialing by meeting critical CALEA ‘Core Standards’. The nine recommendations made by the committee were adopted effective July 29, 2005.
At the Fall CALEA Conference in Nashville, Tennessee, CALEA Commissioners established on November 18, 2005, that an agency with 25 or more full-time personnel could not remain in the CALEA Recognition or Recognition Through Alliance Program for more than one three-year award cycle. Recognition agencies with 25 or more personnel that wish to remain affiliated with CALEA must enter the CALEA Law Enforcement Accreditation Program (at the reduced fee schedule).
Recognized agencies with 25 or more personnel that enter the Accreditation Program by April 1, 2006, will have at least 24 months (longer if their current agreement permits) to complete accreditation self-assessment and schedule an on-site. Recognition agencies converting to Accreditation Agreements and paying the reduced initial accreditation fees, will maintain their Recognition status until April 1, 2008, if their Recognition award expires before that date. In all cases, the requirement for annual reports and current yearly Recognition fee payments must be met to continue in Recognition award status.
This change does not impact Recognized agencies with 24 or fewer full-time personnel. They are encouraged to enter the Accreditation Program if resources permit, or they may elect to stay in the Recognition Program indefinitely.
All agencies affected by this change received written notification in December 2005. It is our goal to implement this change of policy with as little inconvenience to our clients as possible. As such, CALEA staff will work with client agencies on an individual basis. The Commission thanks all for your support of CALEA Programs and appreciates your patience as we make changes to improve our services.
A Sad Note
CALEA sadly notes the death of former CALEA Commissioner, Dr. James Fyfe, Deputy Commissioner for Training, New York Police Department in November 2005. Jim served on the Commission Board from 1989 to 1997, and was a steadfast, dedicated supporter of CALEA and accreditation. His contributions to the law enforcement profession will be long remembered, especially by the CALEA family.
