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Case Number 61
I was also pleasantly surprised when the state auditors came [for an audit], and again when the city auditor came, that I was able to pull many of the things they asked for out of our CALEA Accreditation files! It was right there!
Our city auditor is new to this particular kind of auditor job, and her only previous experience with police department audits was observing a few bigger agencies’ audits. She noted some of the issues that had come up at the other departments, and anticipated her audit of us to be just as problematic. She was surprised when it was not.
An important aspect was that we had already recently updated our policies (I did this to reference the standard numbers and other issues), and we were already in the process of collecting documentation that demonstrates we are in compliance with the standards. In her presentation to the mayor and city council, the auditor even spoke favorably and commended our agency for seeking accreditation. But, I’m sure you all hear stuff like that all the time”.
Captain Lynn Waterworth, Accreditation Manager Jonesboro (AR) Police Department
Editorial Note: The Jonesboro (AR) Police Department is enrolled in the Law Enforcement Accreditation Program and has been in self-assessment since August 2006. They are a “C” size agency under the leadership of Chief Michael Yates. The following unsolicited email exchange underscores the message that an agency can realize benefits of CALEA Accreditation as soon as it begins the process.
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“I cannot tell you how much this has helped us already!
Personnel were skeptical when we first started, but the things they have seen us
implement in order to document some of the policies we were already doing, have
gone well. They are seeing that it is helping us improve, and is really not
creating a lot more work. 