News Archive

Johns Creek Police advance in CALEA accreditation process

2/4/2010

The Johns Creek Police Department advances to the next stage of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies credentialing process with an on-site inspection by CALEA assessors scheduled for this April, Police Chief Ed Densmore said today.

Established in 1979 by the International Association of Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs' Association, and the Police Executive Research Forum, CALEA is recognized internationally as the key credentialing authority for law enforcement agencies.

"CALEA accreditation is the benchmark for the professional standards a law enforcement agency needs to meet today. From the time we launched the department in April 2008, it has been an important goal for us and we are right on target in the process," said Densmore.

CALEA's Law Enforcement Accreditation Program was created to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives.

"We knew we were going to strive to be a CALEA accredited agency, from the very beginning," explained Densmore. "So we used the CALEA standards as a roadmap when building agency policies and implementing agency practices. We were well on our way to our goal the first day our agency went in service."

There are a total of 418 standards and an agency must be in compliance with all applicable standards to earn the prestigious CALEA accreditation award. The standards address key areas such as: roles, responsibilities and relations w/other agencies; organization, management and administration; personnel structure; personnel process; operations; operational support, traffic operations; prisoner and court related activities; auxiliary and technical services; and homeland security/critical incident.

JCPD's self-assessment stage of the accreditation program began in January 2009, followed by a mock inspection last December and another mock inspection set for this month.

Public input from Johns Creek residents and businesses on the accreditation process is welcome and encouraged during the on-site assessment. To that end, a public meeting will be held in April 2010 at JCPD headquarters: 11445 Johns Creek Parkway, Johns Creek, GA 30097. Meeting day/time/details will be posted at johnscreekga.gov and advertised in local newspapers in advance.