July 9, 2009
Contact: Dave Sloggie
Phone: (757)592.3637
dsloggie@williamsburgva.gov
The Commission on Accreditation for Law
Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA) has selected the Williamsburg Police
Force to be a Flagship Agency -- an extraordinary example of excellence
in public safety and a recognized resource to other for other
departments across the country.
CALEA’s accreditation programs (which are voluntary) challenge public
safety agencies to demonstrate that they meet an established set of
professionally recognized standards leading to excellence in management
and service delivery. These standards reflect the best thinking and
experience of contemporary public safety practitioners and researchers
and are considered benchmarks for today's public safety agencies.
“We constantly strive to do the best we can to protect our residents
and visitors, and we hold ourselves to the highest possible standards -
our own -- but we are also proud of this affirmation of the work we
do,” said Williamsburg Police Chief Mike Yost. “This has been a
rigorous process and a team effort, and a great deal of hard work and
dedication by the entire Williamsburg Police Department, especially our
Accreditation Manager, Deby Middlebrook.”
Agencies receive their awards after participating in a process that
involves a commitment of personnel and other resources and can last up
to 36 months. During this period, all aspects of the agency’s
policies, procedures, management, operations and support services are
examined in detail. In addition, each agency conducts a detailed
self-assessment and participates in an on-site review by a team of
outside CALEA Assessors, composed of experienced public safety
practitioners. Williamsburg’s on site review was in April 2009. The
local community is also notified of the process and given an opportunity
to submit their comments and observations.
“The Williamsburg Police Department has always been a “flagship
agency” to us, but it is wonderful to see them get the recognition
they deserve from such a prestigious national accrediting agency,”
said Mayor Jeanne Zeidler. “It is no surprise that the on site
assessors were impressed by the department’s professionalism and
integrity in addition to the number of specialized activities, programs
and services that a department our size maintains.”
On July 12, 1987, the Williamsburg Police Department became the 49th
Law Enforcement Agency in the United States to be awarded Accreditation.
The department has received reaccreditation status five times: 1992,
1997, 2000, 2003, and 2006 previously.
CALEA is an independent national accrediting authority established in
1979 by the four major law enforcement 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).
www.CALEA.org
Kate Hoving
Communications Specialist
City of Williamsburg
401 Lafayette St.
Williamsburg, VA 23185
Office: (757).220.6197
email: khoving@williamsburgva.gov
