Westfield Mayor Andy Cook announced Monday that the Westfield Police Department received national accreditation by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) in the Law Enforcement program(s). This is Westfield Police Department’s second award of national accreditation, the first coming in 2016.
“Safety and security are the top priorities in the City of Westfield,” said Cook. “The professionalism, preventive mindset and caliber of our officers, from top to bottom, is the foundation of what makes the Westfield Police Department among the best. I am proud of our department and for what each member represents.”
Rush
“Accreditation provides the necessary foundation on how we operate as an agency,” Chief Joel Rush said. “Complying with an approved set of nationally-recognized standards creates a platform of professionalism. I want to thank each of our officers for their dedication and commitment in accomplishing this award.”
CALEA accreditation comes following the required four-year self-assessment phase and a meticulous site-based assessment of community engagement, policy, procedures, equipment and facilities by CALEA assessors. In addition, CALEA’s 21-member Board of Commissioners reviewed all findings and determined WPD’s accreditation status. The honor recognizes excellence in public safety and commitment to community.
“This award of accreditation does not come easy,” said CALEA President Anthony Purcell, Chief of Police, University of Alabama at Birmingham Police Department. “Agencies must go through a rigorous review and evaluation of their organization and then implement the necessary policy and procedure changes. The process does not stop at that point. By voluntarily choosing to seek CALEA accreditation, the agency commits to an ongoing review of adherence to CALEA’s standards. Each community with CALEA accredited agencies should feel confident that their public safety organization is going above and beyond and operating under the highest standards in public safety.”
About CALEA
In 1979, the Commission was created as a credentialing authority through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations including the International Association of Chiefs of Police. The purpose is to develop standards based on international best practices in public safety, and to establish and administer the accreditation process. The accreditation process is how a public safety agency voluntarily demonstrates how it meets professionally recognized criteria for excellence in management and service delivery. To read about the benefits of accreditation go to calea.org/benefits-accreditation.