http://ozarkspub.vo.llnwd.net/o37/KSMU/audio/mp3/springfield-police-department-acquires-accreditation-again_49907.mp3
The Springfield Police Department was recently accredited by the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, also known as the CALEA. According to a press release sent out by the department, this is the fifth time the department has been accredited.
The accreditation happens every three years, meaning that the SPD has achieved 15 continuous years of the approved status.
This means the police department also earned the “Meritorious” award from CALEA. Nearly 16,000 agencies in the US are eligible to apply for the voluntary accreditation; Springfield's police department was part of only 5% of agencies to achieve this accreditation for the next three years.
On behalf of the department, Police Chief Paul Williams accepted the award.
“It is a way to ensure that we are doing things the right way--that we are taking advantage of the best practices and doing thing things effectively and efficiently--and, according to what the recognized standards are for policing across the United States,” said Chief Williams.
The accreditation process looks at more than 400 criteria, from how an officer takes reports to how information is managed, to equipment and training protocol.
The board also provides recommendations. In a pre-review done in August, the board recommended that the Springfield Police Department create an auditing system for its officers' traffic ticket books. Williams said a procedure was immediately put into place for that.
The SPD also had a major accomplishment this year by filing all of its accreditation files digitally, Williams said.
“We have really thrown ourselves out there because we are not afraid of what they will find. We are a very a professional, well trained, well-oiled machine here operating for the best interest of the citizens of Springfield,” said Williams.
Additionally, the Missouri State Highway Patrol was also re-accredited.
For KSMU News, I’m Shannon Bowers.