FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
On Nov. 21, Chief Paul Williams, Sgt. Patrick Haenni and Capt. Vance Holland of the Springfield Police Department appeared before the Board of Commissioners for the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA), during the CALEA conference in Miami, Florida, to be reviewed for reaccreditation. At the conclusion of the hearing and upon a vote by the entire Board of Commissioners, full accreditation status was again awarded to the Springfield Police Department.
“The Springfield Police Department is a very professional law enforcement agency committed to the philosophy of community policing and providing the highest level of police services to the community with the resources available,” Assessment Team Leader Randy Nichols wrote in the SPD’s Assessment Report. “Department personnel are well trained, well educated, and present a professional image in the community.”
During the assessors’ on-site visit, they interviewed numerous agency personnel, community members, City administrative staff and members of City Council. They also participated in ride-alongs with agency personnel and observed operations in the communications center.
“During these ride-alongs, assessors observed various interactions between members of the community and police officers,” wrote Nichols. “It was quite apparent that members of the community respected the police officers and that the officers respected members of the community as well. Every observed encounter was an indication of the professionalism of the agency and its members. Every contact made by assessors in the agency and in the community produced positive comments and a show of support for the department.”
The SPD was also recognized with the Meritorious Award for having been accredited by CALEA for 15 or more continuous years. Since achieving initial accreditation in 1997, the SPD has been required to apply for re-accreditation and submit to a similar review every three years in order to maintain accredited status. Beginning this year, however, review and reaccreditation will occur every four years. This marks the seventh successful accreditation review for the Springfield Police Department by CALEA. The next review will be in 2019.
Currently, fewer than 5 percent of eligible law enforcement agencies in the United States have successfully applied for, and subsequently achieved, CALEA accreditation.
The SPD is committed to this voluntary accreditation process and to CALEA, the only national organization available that provides such certification and oversight into the standards, policies, procedures, and operations of police agencies.
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Media Contact: Lisa Cox, Public Affairs Officer
417-864-1786
[email protected]
Release authorized by: Major Jim McCulloch