Mr. Stephen DeBenedittis

“The Accreditation Process provides the best and the most credible roadmap for any law enforcement agency in pursuit of professional excellence. It will be the benchmark for policing in the twenty-first century.”   Lafourche Parish (LA) Sheriff’s Office has been CALEA Accredited since 2000.

"The new two person on-site was fantastic. The interaction that occurred between the team and the community along with members of the agency made it easier for all to accept accreditation and to share what it meant to them. Accreditation makes it easier for the Sheriff's Office to provide better service to the citizens in our community."

"From start to finish, it's the change in process that is most obvious when working with CALEA. This change offers agencies the opportunity for improved transparency and delivery of services to the communities served. I would tell any chief that if he/she steps up to the table, the end result will be a better department for both members and citizens alike."

“I would like to thank the Commission very much. Accreditation is a way of life for us. It has reduced our liability cost and made my risk managers very happy.”

"CALEA Accreditation has proven itself time and time again...and the respect and support generated within our community for our services have been positively impacted by the program, making us a truly professional agency."

“The key to CALEA Accreditation is peer review of our policies, procedures and practices.  This promotes professional excellence as we strive to be our very best.  The process results in a total team effort that contributes positively to any agency’s effectiveness and ability to solve problems and deliver services.  We have bought into this process since the early 1990’s and remain committed.  I look forward to many years as a CALEA Accredited agency.” 

"The assessors did an excellent job of providing feedback to my agency on our performance. In today’s environment with an economic downturn this is not the time to think about giving up accreditation; it is even more important to retain accreditation as the CALEA process represents our roadway to professionalism."

"I would not send my kids to a school or a hospital that was not accredited, and I think the citizens of Columbia County deserve the professional delivery of services by my office that is embodied by the CALEA standards."

"Had it not been for CALEA we would not have been as organized or able to adapt and respond to the floods.  CALEA was responsible for enabling the Munster Police Department to respond. I hope agencies realize that in difficult times CALEA can be the lifeline."

“With the CALEA-based blueprint in place, we now have a means to continually develop, review and adjust our efforts to meet the best practices and standards in the industry. We will continue to partner with CALEA and other accredited agencies to meet the dynamic changes of our profession and the needs of our growing community.”

"The City of Keller, Texas residents approved a 15 Year Crime Control and Prevention Sales Tax dedicated to the Keller Police Department and one of the expenditure requirements was to continue to fund the CALEA Accreditation program. The taxpayers noted the improvements in the overall management and performance in their police department since the department received the initial award in 2006."

"Let me just briefly give you a broader municipal perspective of how we value and utilize our CALEA accredited status: CALEA Accreditation helps our risk management efforts and is an important part of our group insurance rating and, conversely, our costs. Being CALEA accredited also helps our bond rating. It is a rating we share with only 5% of cities in the United States. Moody’s loves CALEA Standards and so do our bond holders. Accreditation is an important part of our recruiting package for economic development; it makes a strong statement about our community and its values.