The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was established in 1979 as a credentialing authority through the joint efforts of law enforcement’s major executive associations: International Association of Chiefs of Police (IACP); National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE); National Sheriffs Association (NSA); and Police Executive Research Forum (PERF).
The CALEA accreditation programs provide public safety agencies with an opportunity to voluntarily meet an established set of professional standards, which require:
• Comprehensive and uniform written directives that clearly define authority, performance and responsibilities;
• Reports and analyses to make fact-based and informed management decisions;
• Preparedness to address natural or man-made critical incidents;
• Community relationship-building and maintenance;
• Independent review by subject matter experts; and
• Continuous pursuit of excellence through annual reviews and other assessment measures.