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Recognition - Los Alamos Police Department Official Earns National Accreditation
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The Los Alamos Police Department was presented with a certificate Saturday morning, March 24, 2018 after officially earning National Accreditation from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA). Known as the “Gold Standard” in Law Enforcement accreditation, less than 5% of all Law Enforcement agencies in North America are nationally accredited. The program is designed to strengthen crime prevention and control, formalize management procedures, establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices, and increase community and staff confidence in the department. The CALEA association is endorsed by the International Chiefs of Police, the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, the National Sheriffs’ Association and the Police Executive Research Forum.
In July of 2015, the Department started the process to become accredited by reviewing policies and procedures to ensure compliance with 484 CALEA standards. Last November, the Department was evaluated on-site by two CALEA assessors who read policy, inspected work areas, confirmed practices, reviewed proofs, and received input from community members. The assessors then prepared a report for the CALEA Board who presented the Department with the award by unanimous consent after recognizing 100% compliance of applicable standards.
Los Alamos is now the third agency in New Mexico to hold this certification behind the State Police and Farmington Police Department.