State Police Receives Re-accreditation from Leading National Nonprofit Organization

HARRISBURG, Pa., Dec. 9, 2016 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies (CALEA) last month awarded Certificate of Meritorious Accreditation status to the Pennsylvania State Police for exemplifying excellence in law enforcement and maintaining 15 or more years of accredited status. The department received initial accreditation in 1993 and has been consecutively reaccredited eight times since.

The national accreditation of the Pennsylvania State Police is an acknowledgement of the courage, leadership, collaboration, and innovation of the dedicated enlisted and civilian employees of PSP to provide high quality service to the community. CALEA accreditation requires that participating agencies meet more than 450 law enforcement standards. 

The standards are designed to ensure that nationally recognized best practices are followed and adherence is verified during on-site assessment by an independent group of law enforcement experts. The accreditation process provides valuable guidelines for systematic internal review and assessment of PSP's policies and procedures, which is an important aspect of 21^st century policing, according to Deputy Commissioner of Administration and Professional Responsibility Lieutenant Colonel Lisa Christie.

"Since 1905, the Pennsylvania State Police has been focused on serving the citizens of Pennsylvania while maintaining the highest standards of professionalism for all of our members," said Lt. Col. Christie. "CALEA accreditation is one way of demonstrating our commitment to ongoing training, investment in technology, and willingness to learn and grow as an agency." 

CALEA is a nonprofit, non-governmental organization created in 1979 through the joint efforts of the International Association of Chiefs of Police, National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, National Sheriffs' Association, and Police Executive Research Forum. Its accreditation programs are designed to improve the delivery of public safety services and recognize professional excellence. The Pennsylvania State Police accreditation is for four years.

For more information about the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov.

MEDIA CONTACTS: Ryan Tarkowski or Corporal Adam Reed, 717-783-5556

SOURCE Pennsylvania State Police

Related Links

http://www.psp.pa.gov