CALEA

The high standards of the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) require the Davidson Police Department to demonstrate its commitment to excellence in law enforcement in order to receive CALEA Accreditation. The Davidson Police Department received CALEA Accreditation in July 2008 under then-Police Chief Jeanne Miller.  National accreditation from the Commission is highly sought after by law enforcement agencies but not always granted.  We are proud of the distinction and commit ourselves to continuing to meet the CALEA standards.

The department undergoes on-site assessment every three years and online assessment every year in order to maintain the accreditation and assure that the department meets updated national standards according to “best practices” for law enforcement operations and administration.  The assessments are conducted to evaluate and review standards of proof for specific criteria across all sections and actions of a police department.  The success of a department is based on its capability to work together as a team with a common goal.  The Davidson Police Department members’ goal is to provide the best police services to the community we serve.  CALEA Accreditation helps stay current and effective in reaching that goal.

What is CALEA?

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc., (CALEA®) was created in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement's major executive associations: 

CALEA Commissioners Board

A Commission Board composed of 21 members governs CALEA. 11 must be law enforcement practitioners, and the balance of those members is selected from the public and private sectors. Generally, they reflect a representation from local, state/provincial and international law enforcement, and public safety organizations, along with business, academia, the judiciary, and state/provincial and local government.

The commissioners are appointed by the four founding law enforcement organizations and serve without compensation. CALEA operates as an independent, nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation and maintains a professional staff managed by an Executive Director. The staff conducts all administrative and operational duties as directed by the Commission.


Member Benefits

CALEA publishes a newsletter magazine, entitled CALEA Update, three times a year for its members and maintains a professional website. CALEA offers accreditation-related training at each of its conferences, as well as presentations on current issues in law enforcement.

Purpose & Goals

The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Program is to improve the delivery of public safety services, primarily by: maintaining a body of standards, developed by public safety practitioners, covering a wide range of up-to-date public safety initiatives; establishing and administering an accreditation process; and recognizing professional excellence.

Specifically, CALEA’s goals are to:

  • Strengthen crime prevention and control capabilities
  • Formalize essential management procedures
  • Establish fair and nondiscriminatory personnel practices
  • Improve service delivery
  • Solidify interagency cooperation and coordination
  • Increase community and staff confidence in the agency

CALEA judges participating agencies on their abilities to achieve the above goals by rating the agency on 110 standards out of 450, if they are seeking recognition status, and on all 450 if they are seeking full accreditation.