C.A.L.E.A. Program
  The Edgewood Police Department strives to provide a
high level of service to the residents and visitors of
the Borough of Edgewood. In our attempts to
maintain this level of service to the community and
promote a professional atmosphere for all, we continue
to seek out ways to improve and strengthen our
department.
In 2007 we reached out to the Commission on
Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (C.A.L.E.A.) for
ideas that would further our commitment to the
community.
C.A.L.E.A. is an organization recognized and
respected internationally for its efforts to improve the
services offered by many different types of law
enforcement agencies. C.A.L.E.A. was created in 1979
with the help of organizations such as the International
Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP) and the Police
Executive Research Forum (PERF).
After speaking with representatives of C.A.L.E.A., it was
determined that the police department should participate
in the organization’s “Recognition” program. The
program was designed to meet the needs of smaller law
enforcement agencies and incorporates 112 mandatory
standards to adhere to. These standards include
life, health and safety issues, critical legal issues,
and conditions that reduce risk and high liability
exposure. An agreement to complete all the
standards within two years was necessary to be awarded
the “Recognition” status.
Once the plan was hatched, we began to assess our
current situation and the steps needed to transition to
a C.A.L.E.A. recognized agency. A new and improved
policy manual was created and many forms that proved our
compliance were gathered. It was a time consuming
and labor intensive process, a challenge that was met by
all involved with it. Upon completing all of the
standards involved in the process, we underwent an
evaluation. A representative from C.A.L.E.A. visited
our department and stayed for three days to evaluate our
progress and determine whether or not we had met our
goals.
On November 21, 2009 Chief Payne attended the
C.A.L.E.A.
conference in Salt Lake City, Utah. Chief Payne
made a presentation to the C.A.L.E.A. commission about our
efforts to achieve C.A.L.E.A. recognition. As a result
of the presentation and the hard work of all involved,
the Edgewood Police Department was awarded C.A.L.E.A.
“Recognition” status. We are currently the only
department in Allegheny County with that status and one
of two in Pennsylvania.
The C.A.L.E.A. status, and the work associated with
maintaining it, is a testament to our department’s
ongoing commitment to maintain a positive and strong
relationship with the citizens that make up the Borough
of Edgewood. We appreciate your continued support
and realize that our success is largely in part of you.
Chief Payne displays the certificate
awarded to the department by C.A.L.E.A.
|
