Lessons Learned and Emerging Issues

“CALEA Accreditation inspires public confidence in our agency, as well as assures that our department is up-to-date on police initiatives and administrative practices. Among the areas of particular importance addressed by CALEA, are the delivery of services to our citizens and the emphasis on inter-agency cooperation. CALEA provides a means of checks and balances that confirms the successful tactics we have in place.”  Miami PD  has been CALEA Accredited since 2003.

"Through improved policies and procedures, both the police department and the Communications Division were better able to  serve the community and its members.  There is a trust between the community and the members of the department because we are responsive to them and the needs of the community. Standards mean trust."

“I have been with this department for more than 25 years. I have seen a vast transition and difference come about as a result of our CALEA accreditation.”

"CALEA Accreditation gave our personnel a focus and direction with specific and measurable goals.  Self assessment is invaluable and on many occasions we found more efficient ways to discharge our duties, providing contemporary and professional law enforcement services." 

“Accreditation helps us make our law enforcement management systems work smoothly. It assists us with developing our employees and provides police officers with a superior foundation and enables them to provide outstanding services to the community.  I am proud of the men and women of the Avon Police Department for providing that superior level of service to our community.” 

"CALEA Accreditation has prompted the Corpus Christi (TX) Police Department to closely scrutinize the policies and procedures governing the way we do business. Many policies have been updated/altered/initiated because of the influence of CALEA. Working closely with the city Legal Department and the city Human Resources Department, we are confident that we can better withstand the scrutiny of lawsuits and grievances and at the same time offer our employees a fair and consistent work environment."

"Although the CALEA process is institutionalized with my agency, we learn something about our agency each time we have a CALEA assessment.  Our employees have an understanding of their duties that comes with adhering to standards over the years." 

"The CALEA Campus Security Accreditation Program provides an opportunity for college and university non-sworn agencies to become more professional and respected by their administration, students, faculty, staff and surrounding law enforcement departments."

"First and foremost, the standards represent what are considered to be good business practices for training academies. It is not a one-time temporary process.  It is the way the agency has been and will continue to do business. A highly prized recognition of professionalism and excellence." 

"Our department has been in the accreditation business for over twenty-six years. While it was very challenging in the beginning, it has now become a part of our daily lives. Today, 93% of our officers and employees began their career with a nationally accredited department. Meeting the standards is no longer a challenge but an invitation for new ways to improve existing processes. We consider it an honor to be a long standing member of the CALEA family."

"When our agency was at a strategic inflection point, we first used CALEA Recognition and then Accreditation as the tool to turn things around. Simply, we had to change, and that change had to be significant and done in a timely fashion. We used the CALEA Standards to guide us as we made changes in practice, procedures and policies."