Police Department Accreditation
Emma Powell Police Department Accreditation
Since 2012, the University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department has been accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). CALEA is a highly regarded international accrediting body and is considered the gold standard in public safety. Started in 1979 through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations, CALEA accreditation provides law enforcement agencies with a framework of best practices and standards within the profession to ensure accountability, reduce liability exposure and promote effective community service. Participation in CALEA is strictly voluntary and requires a clear commitment from the agency’s leadership. There are over 500 law enforcement standards implemented by CALEA which align with four basic areas of law enforcement; Policy and Procedures, Administration, Operations, and Support Services. CALEA Standards are continually reviewed and updated to ensure they reflect the most accurate and accepted practices within law enforcement.
Earning and Maintaining the Gold Standard
Once an agency makes the commitment to pursuit accreditation, they must give formal written notice to CALEA and undergo a 36 month Self-Assessment phase in which an internal, systematic analysis of the agency’s operations, management and practices are conducted. During this time the agency will need to work to modify any needed policy and procedures to ensure it conforms with CALEA Standards. After this Self-Assessment Phase, CALEA conducts a formal assessment as well as a review by the Board of CALEA Commissioners. If these are passed, the agency will be awarded the seal of accreditation.
The University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department gave CALEA their written intent to seek accreditation in 2009 and received its first CALEA Accreditation Award on March 24, 2012.
Once an agency is accredited there is an ongoing series of remote and on site based assessments to certify the agency continually maintains CALEA Standards. Every year the agency will undergo a remote assessment completed by CALEA. Every fourth year, an in depth on-site assessment is conducted prior to awarding verified compliance in CALEA. This site based assessment includes public comment sessions, interviews with various individuals associated with the respective agency, process and outcomes-mapping, as well as community feedback.
University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department CALEA Awards
First Award – March 2012
Second Award – March 2015
Third Award – March 2018
Fourth Award – March 2022
Public Comment
The University of Kansas Medical Center Police Department is actively participating the in the CALEA Accreditation Process. As an agency dedicated to providing the highest level of safety, service and security to the people we serve, public comments and feedback are important to us. As part of the accreditation process, we are providing an opportunity for the public to provide information regarding our department’s suitability for accreditation directly to CALEA. This may include general comments, commendations and other information regarding the department’s adherence to CALEA standards. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence. Please feel free to use the link below to access the public portal and leave remarks.
It is important to note, CALEA is not an investigatory body and subsequently the public portal should not be used to submit information for such purposes. Additionally, there will be no response other than acknowledgement to submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA Accreditation.
