To ensure that the Police Department is operating with the most updated policies and practices used in law enforcement, the department voluntarily entered into a contract with the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) in 2000.  CALEA was created in 1979 through the combined efforts of four major law enforcement organizations: the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. These organizations continue to serve in an advisory capacity to the Commission and are responsible for appointing members of the Commission.

During the three-year self assessment phase, department staff reviewed and revised directives, made modifications to the policy facility and completed an extensive self-assessment to ensure compliance with 446 standards set forth by CALEA.  A description of the process is listed below:

PURPOSE OF ACCREDITATION

The purpose of this accreditation process is to improve the delivery of professional and quality law enforcement services to the citizens of West Sacramento.

ACCREDITATION PROCESS

There were three distinct stages in this three-year accreditation process:

1.            Self Assessment

2.            Mock Assessment

3.            Site Assessment

Self assessment

In this stage the department examined it’s policies and procedures, management practices, methods of operation, and support services and applied them to the standards set forth by CALEA.  

Mock assessment

Police officials from local accredited agencies visited the West Sacramento Police Department and checked our completed standards to assure compliance.

Site assessment

CALEA assessors visited West Sacramento PD and reviewed standards, met with officers, and met with citizens of West Sacramento to access our compliance with applicable standards.

Accreditation Award

West Sacramento PD received its initial accreditation award by the CALEA Commission in November 2002.  Following a re-review West Sacramento Police successfully received reaccreditation status in July 2006.   The Department was re-visited by a team of three certified CALEA asessors in August 2008.  The Department will learn if reaccrediatation is awarded at the CALEA conference scheduled for December 2008 in Tulsa, Oklahoma.

To learn more about CALEA, click here to visit their web site