Glendale Heights Police Department
Attains Law Enforcement Accreditation

The Glendale Heights Police Department is extremely proud to announce the successful accreditation of the department, at the CALEA Conference in Tulsa, Oklahoma on December 6, 2008.

To view a copy of the CALEA 2008 Assessment Report for the Glendale Heights Police Department, click here.

What is Accreditation?

Technically speaking, it is the process by which an agency receives an objective, outside stamp of approval that is earned through diligent internal and external evaluation. These evaluations are based on professional policing standards and are set by an impartial, yet knowledgeable group of law enforcement professionals.

What is CALEA?

The Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies is a non-profit organization formed in 1979 through the combined efforts of four prestigious law enforcement agencies: the International Association of Chiefs of Police; the National Organization for Black Law Enforcement Executives; the National Sheriff’s Association; and the Police Executive Research Forum.

What Does Accreditation Accomplish?

Basically, it assures that a Department’s policies, procedures and training guide the agency’s performance, rather than guessing, or inconsistent guidelines. Specifically, it will:

• Strengthen crime prevention and control;
• Formalize management and administrative procedures;
• Establish fair and non-discriminatory personnel practices;
• Improve service delivery;
• Boost citizen and staff confidence in the agency;
• Bring the Department up to national professional level;
• Ensure a sense of well-being in the community;
• Assure government leaders of the quality of law enforcement.

Why has the Glendale Heights Police Department Decided to Become Involved?

First of all, it is the best method of being recognized for our excellence in law enforcement. Within the Glendale Heights Police Department, we know that we provide quality, professional service to all persons. By becoming accredited, we are proving our proficiency, and boosting our credibility and professional standing outside the Department.

There are also many other reasons our Department has decided to pursue accreditation, including:

• Bringing policies, procedures and systems in line with our infrastructure and equipment upgrades;
• Strengthening community confidence through increased professionalism;
• To proactively address internal issues;
• Providing for greater internal and external accountability;
• Improving employee morale;
• Providing consistency, standardized guidance, and a defined mission to all members of the Department;
• Controlling liability.

What is the Process?

There are five main steps in the accreditation process.

Step One: Obtain application, become accepted for candidacy.
Step Two: Self-Assessment phase, during which the Department reviews the standards, determines how to meet them, and organizes any necessary documentation to prove or establish compliance.
Step Three: On-Site phase, during which the Department is reviewed by an impartial and experienced group of assessors.
Step Four: Commission review of assessment report and decision.
Step Five: Department maintains compliance and seeks reaccreditation after three years.
Step Six: The Department is currently in its first three year reaccreditation cycle, and is preparing for an onsite assessment in August 2011.

What Other Agencies are Accredited?

In Illinois, 54 agencies are accredited, 15 in DuPage County. They include Addison, Bartlett, Downers Grove, Naperville, Oak Brook, West Chicago, and the DuPage County Sheriff’s Department and Forest Preserve District Police. Internationally, over 700 agencies are accredited.