The Commission on Accredited Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA)

The Collierville Police Department has successfully accomplished both national and state accreditation by meeting specific criteria that measures professionalism, organizational, and overall readiness in law enforcement policy and procedures. These programs are intended to encourage cooperation, recognize professional standing, develop professional services and ensure public safety throughout the United States. 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 such as the International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP). The Collierville Police Department received its first award of accreditation in 1995. In March of 2018, the department received its eighth award of accreditation from CALEA. The purpose of CALEA’s Accreditation Programs 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. The CALEA Accreditation Process is a proven modern management model. Once implemented, it presents the Chief Executive Officer (CEO), on a continuing basis, with a blueprint that promotes the efficient use of resources and improves service delivery - regardless of the size, geographic location, or functional responsibilities of the agency. This accreditation program provides law enforcement agencies an opportunity to voluntarily demonstrate that they meet an established set of professional standards which:

• Require an agency to develop a comprehensive, well thought out, uniform set of written directives. This is one of the most successful methods for reaching administrative and operational goals, while also providing direction to personnel.

• Provide the necessary reports and analyses a CEO needs to make fact-based, informed management decisions.

• Require a preparedness program be put in place - so an agency is ready to address natural or man-made critical incidents.

• Are a means for developing or improving upon an agency’s relationship with the community.

• Strengthen an agency’s accountability, both within the agency and the community, through a continuum of standards that clearly define authority, performance, and responsibilities.

• Can limit an agency’s liability and risk exposure because it demonstrates that nationally recognized standards for law enforcement have been met, as verified by a team of independent outside CALEA-trained assessors.

• Facilitates an agency’s pursuit of professional excellence.

The Collierville Police Department must maintain compliance with applicable standards, keep its proofs of compliance up-to-date, and live by the letter and spirit of those standards. To retain its recognition status, the agency is required to submit proofs of compliance to CALEA annually, the appropriate recognition continuation fees and a CALEA Agency Annual Report. The annual report, due by its anniversary date each year, includes a summary of the agency’s recognition maintenance experience for the preceding year and a declaration of continued compliance with applicable standards. The Collierville Police Department manages its accreditation adherence through the use of an Accreditation Manager. The Accreditation Manager is responsible for reviewing current policies and procedures and comparing them with CALEA Standards. One of the most time-consuming tasks is accreditation file maintenance. With the high volume of files, approximately 450, coming in and out, it is necessary to utilize a tracking system. The CALEA ASAP software has proved to be of great benefit. The Accreditation Manager also tracks grants for the department.

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Public Comment Portal

The purpose of this public comment portal is to receive comments regarding this agency's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and overall candidacy for accredited status. These comments can be in the form of commendations or concerns. The overall intent of the accreditation process is to provide the Collierville Police Department with information to support continuous improvement, as well as foster the pursuit of professional excellence.

To comment on the Collierville Police Department's compliance with CALEA standards, engagement in the service community, delivery of public safety services, and the overall candidacy for accreditation status, visit https://cimrs2.calea.org/758

IMPORTANT: 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 acknowledgment of submissions; however, the information will be considered in context to its relevancy to compliance with standards and the tenets of CALEA® Accreditation.