The Howard County Police Department (HCPD) has been nationally recognized for meeting strict standards set by the national Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
Police Chief Gregory Der was formally presented with the Commission’s accreditation certification, which recognizes professional excellence in law enforcement agencies, at the group’s recent national conference.
“We are committed to exceeding national law enforcement standards of quality,” said Chief Der. “This accreditation sends a message to our public that maintaining the highest level of service is a top priority. This recognition is a testament to the quality of our agency, not just in our region, but as held up next to many of the finest law enforcement organizations around the country.”
CALEA’s law enforcement accreditation represents the successful completion of an intense evaluation and a detailed outside review by a team of independent assessors. These examiners analyzed all areas of the HCPD, including policies, procedures and operations, as well as input from county residents. The department had to comply with more than 450 standards to maintain accredited status.
“Our residents deserve to live in a community where they are safe, feel safe, and get to enjoy all the amenities we provide for them,” said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball. “This accreditation of our Police Department is one of the measures we use to ensure we are achieving those goals. For five consecutive years, we’ve been selected as the Safest City in America and with our continued investment in public safety, we hope to maintain that ranking for years to come. I commend Chief Der, his command staff, and all our police officers for their commitment and professionalism.”
CALEA Accreditation is a continuous process and serves as the foundation for a successful, well managed, transparent, community-focused public safety agency. To this end, an agency must maintain its accredited status by remaining in compliance with CALEA standards at all times.
The HCPD must submit yearly reports of its continuing compliance with CALEA standards. Formal on-site reviews are conducted by a team of assessors every four years. The Howard County Police Department has been nationally accredited since 1990.
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