The Longmont Department of Public Safety announced on August 8 that it is working to achieve law enforcement’s “most prestigious certification,” the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) Accreditation.
According to CALEA’s website, the organization was established in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations. “The CALEA Accreditation program seals are reserved for use by those public safety agencies that have demonstrated compliance with CALEA Standards and have been awarded CALEA Accreditation by the Commission,” the authority said.
The Law Enforcement Accreditation process through CALEA “focuses on standards that provide best practices related to life, health, and safety procedures for the agency… The program provides the framework for addressing high-risk issues within a contemporary environment and ensures officers are prepared to meet basic community service expectations and prepared to manage critical events.”
According to Communications and Marketing Manager of Longmont Public Safety Robin Ericson, accreditation through CALEA ensures that a department is meeting nationally recognized best practices and standards in areas such as policies, procedures, training, and operations. “It promotes continuous improvement through regular assessments and encourages a culture of excellence within the department,” she said.
For the past three years, Ericson said that the Longmont Police Department has worked to evaluate and improve its common practices, directives, and training to enhance the care and protection they provide to the citizens of Longmont. “This process not only enhances transparency and consistency in law enforcement practices but also reduces liability by demonstrating compliance with proven standards,” she said.
“Striving to become a CALEA-accredited police department demonstrates our willingness to hold ourselves to the highest levels of professionalism, accountability, transparency and integrity,” Ericson said. “It exemplifies our dedication to maintaining the trust of and the partnership with our community. The Longmont Police Department is committed to providing the highest quality of public safety services and achieving accreditation underscores that commitment.”
The Longmont Police Department aims to receive accreditation by 2026 and will attempt to maintain the nationally-recognized status once it is achieved.
As part of the review process, CALEA will review citizens’ comments about the quality of Longmont’s police services, which can be submitted through an online form.
There is a cost associated with CALEA accreditation, including initial accreditation fees and annual continuation fees. The initial accreditation process costs just over $5,000, with annual fees of around $5,000 thereafter, Ericson said. However, obtaining this accreditation allows the city to access grants from the Department of Justice, potentially up to $250,000, to support its Community Policing initiative.
“Organizationally we knew seeking CALEA accreditation would benefit our community and our department,” said Interim Police Chief David Moore. “It has been an invaluable journey for us and has already paid dividends in taking us to a higher level as a Police Department.”
