Gwinnett PD attains CALEA accreditation seventh time

LAWRENCEVILLE - Gwinnett County Police Chief Charles M. Walters announced Monday that the Gwinnett County Police Department has successfully attained accreditation for the seventh time from the Commission on Accreditation for Law Enforcement Agencies, Inc. (CALEA).

GCPD is reviewed every three years and has been successfully reaccredited each time since its initial accreditation in 1993. Approximately five percent of over 18,000 law enforcement agencies nationwide attain the recognition of being a CALEA-accredited law enforcement agency.

During the Commission's hearing on Saturday, November 16, 2013 in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, the Commission voted unanimously to re-accredit the Gwinnett County Police Department with excellence. By attaining accreditation status, the Gwinnett County Police Department has demonstrated compliance with over 400 standards that CALEA has established to promote fair and professional law enforcement services in the areas of policy, procedures, management, and operations.

The Gwinnett County Police Department also has the distinction of being one of few police agencies nationwide to receive the "Accreditation with Excellence Award." This award was created by CALEA as an incentive for agencies to employ CALEA accreditation in a manner that sets the benchmark for public safety professionalism at the highest level.

The award has been structured for the recognition of agencies that have met the following criteria:

·Excellence in the development and implementation of contemporary policies and procedures.
·Excellence in the ability to use the CALEA accreditation process as a tool for continuous organizational improvement.
·Excellence in the collection, review, and analysis of organizational data for the purpose of public safety service improvement.
·Advocacy for CALEA accreditation as a strategy for enhancing the professional standing of public safety.
·Excellence in addressing the intent of CALEA standards, beyond compliance.
·Organizational culture supportive of CALEA accreditation.
·Standards compliance and accreditation process success.

"I have always been proud of the work our officers and employees do on a daily basis. Being accredited for the seventh time by CALEA is an achievement in and of itself. Receiving the 'Accreditation with Excellence Award' is validation by the CALEA Commission of what I have always believed-that members of the Gwinnett County Police Department are committed to providing the very best law enforcement services possible for the citizens of Gwinnett County," said Walters in a prepared statement.