CALEA

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) is a credentialing authority created through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations and is considered the Gold Standard in Public Safety. CALEA is an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation with the purpose to improve the delivery of public safety services by maintaining of a body of professional standards that the department must adhere to. The CALEA Accreditation Process is a proven modern management model that fosters the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery. Accreditation embodies the precepts of community-oriented policing and promotes transparency with the community. Public trust is garnered with accreditation as department personnel are held to standards that are based on policing’s best practices.

In July of 2021, the Pella Police Department became enrolled in the initial accreditation process for CALEA’s Law Enforcement Accreditation award. The Pella PD is currently in the self-assessment phase of this multi-year accreditation process, and will subsequently undergo a remote assessment, on-site assessment, and Commission hearings prior to being eligible for this coveted award.

In order to promote public transparency and trust, CALEA has established an information-sharing portal where members of the public can share comments, commendations, and other information regarding the agency’s quality of service or other information relevant to the accreditation process.

Please note, submissions made go directly to CALEA and are not seen by Pella PD staff. CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Information shared with CALEA will help guide the accrediting agency with information regarding Pella PD’s compliance with CALEA standards.

The CALEA public portal can be accessed by clicking here.