The Lexington Police Department is accredited by the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police and by the Commission of Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA).
What does this mean to you?
As a citizen, this is good news. The accreditation programs give police departments the tools necessary to ensure that all policies and procedures conform to the most up-to-date professional law enforcement standards. International law enforcement accreditation through the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) and state accreditation through the Kentucky Association of Chiefs of Police (KACP) is not mandatory, but it does reflect the agency's willingness to demonstrate professional excellence to the Lexington community.
CALEA
The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) was formed in 1979 to develop professional law enforcement standards. State and local law enforcement agencies must voluntarily demonstrate that they meet the stringent criteria. The Commission administers the accreditation process and awards law enforcement agencies with certification. The overall goal of the accreditation program is to promote professionalism and improve the delivery of law enforcement services. The Lexington Police Department is one of five agencies accredited in the state and one of 434 internationally that have achieved this honorable goal.
The Chief of Police, Accreditation Manager and Public Safety Commissioner appear before the CALEA Commissioners during a hearing for accreditation.
What are the standards the department must meet?
The standards address six major law enforcement topics:
- Role, Responsibilities and Relationships with Other Agencies
- Organization, Management and Administration
- Personnel Administration
- Law Enforcement Operations, Operational Support and Traffic Law Enforcement
- Prisoner and Court-related Services
- Auxiliary and Technical Services
Benefits to the Community
- Recognition that the agency's managerial and operational policies and procedures are in accord with a body of nationally certified and recognized professional standards.
- Assurance that every aspect of the agency's personnel system is in accord with professional standards.
- Nationwide recognition of professional excellence.
- Assures the community that the agency is committed to providing the highest quality services and that its policies and procedures are not only effective and responsive but fair and equitable.
- Enhances community understanding, cooperation and support of the agency and its role in the community.
- Liability litigation is deterred.
- State-of-the-art, impartial guidelines for evaluation and change when necessary.
- Ongoing evaluation of whether agency resources are being utilized in the best interest of it's mission assignment.
- Provides neutral guidelines for developing strong budget justifications - especially for personnel and their allocation across function and activities.
- Promotes standardization of policies, thereby increasing efficiency in handling calls for assistance, referrals and joint investigations with other agencies.
- Promotes relationships with prosecutors, courts, correctional agencies and state and local government officials.
- Adds to employee confidence and assures that they are a part of an agency that is nationally recognized as being a provider of truly professional police services.
Public Comment Portal
CALEA has a public portal to receive comments regarding an 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.
Use the link below to submit comments.
Please note: These comments go directly to CALEA and are not viewed by the Lexington Police Department. If you would like to leave a comment or concern for the Lexington Police Department, please use this form.
For more information about CALEA or KACP accreditation, please contact:
Sgt. Scott Perrine, Accreditation Manager
Planning & Analysis Unit
(859) 258-3714 | sperrine@lexingtonpolice.ky.gov