The Auburn Police Department was officially re-accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA), Police Chief Jim Kelly announced today.

The department has been Nationally Accredited since 1997 and is evaluated by CALEA every three years. The agency was rigorously inspected by law enforcement executives from agencies across the nation to assess compliance with more than 350 professional standards.

“The Auburn Police Department is proud to be recognized as an Internationally Accredited Agency and looks forward to continuing to provide the Auburn community with highly professional law enforcement services,” Kelly said.

In order to receive accreditation, CALEA assessors reviewed every aspect of the department by reviewing at files, policies, interviewing employees, riding with the officers, and meeting with leaders and citizens in the community. The department received very high marks from the assessors during the four-day inspection and further received positive comments from the CALEA Review Board during the hearings last weekend, stating that “Auburn was a model department for others across the country to emulate.”

“This is an incredibly difficult accreditation to achieve,” said Auburn Mayor Pete Lewis. “The fact that our police officers have achieved this level in a community of our size is impressive.”

ABOUT CALEA

CALEA provides credentialing services for law enforcement agencies, public safety communications agencies, and public safety training academies. The CALEA Accreditation Process is a proven modern management model; once implemented, it presents the CEO, on a continuing basis, with a blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery — regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional responsibilities of the agency. For more information, visit www.calea.org.